Risk of political violence in BD remains a concern: UK

The United Kingdom has observed that the risk of political violence still existed in Bangladesh. The UK in its country case study update on Bangladesh which forms part of the 2013 Human Rights and Democracy Report, said although political violence related to protests has declined since Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections in January this year but NGOs reported a spike in the number of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the months following the elections. The report mentioned that the new policies and legislation developed in Bangladesh this year have generated concerns about restrictions on civil society space and media freedoms. ‘The risk of political violence in Bangladesh remains a concern. The new policies and legislation developed in Bangladesh this year have generated concerns about restrictions on civil society space and media freedoms.’ The report said that the 10th parliamentary elections on January 5, 2014, were not contested by the former opposition 18-party alliance, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), due to concerns that free and fair elections could not be held in the absence of a neutral caretaker government. It mentioned that with over half the parliamentary seats uncontested, Awami League won a 2nd successive term. ‘Twenty-one deaths were reported on polling day and over 100 school-based polling centres burnt down. Since the polls, BNP has committed to peaceful protest, and there have been significantly fewer enforced general strikes and transport blockades than in 2013,’ the report mentioned. ‘All the main political parties fielded candidates in local sub-district (Upazila) elections in March. After trailing the BNP in the 1st two rounds, the Awami League won most seats in the final 3 rounds. This was accompanied by a significant increase in NGO and media reports of intimidation and interference in the electoral process,’ it added, according to a news agency.