BNP Demands Fear-Free Environment Ahead of Elections

The Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, has issued a stern directive to the government, asserting that an environment free from intimidation is a non-negotiable prerequisite for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. In a formal statement released on Friday, 23 January 2026, the veteran politician warned that clandestine attacks are being orchestrated specifically to derail the democratic process.

The Attack in Keraniganj

The Secretary General’s remarks followed a chilling assassination attempt in the capital’s outskirts. On the night of Thursday, 22 January, unidentified assailants opened fire on Hasan Molla, 42, the General Secretary of the Hazratpur Union BNP. The ambush occurred directly in front of the party’s local office in the Keraniganj Model Upazila.

Mr Alamgir expressed his profound concern regarding the deteriorating security situation, noting that the shooting of a grassroots leader within the vicinity of a political office signals a dangerous escalation in targeted violence.

Overview of Recent Political Violence (January 2026)

Warnings of Counter-Revolutionary Sabotage

In his statement, Mirza Fakhrul highlighted a disturbing trend of “stealth attacks” by remnants of the former autocratic regime. He argued that after the fall of the Awami League government through the student-led mass uprising, certain “subversive elements” have remained hidden, waiting for opportunities to destabilise the nation and sabotage the transition to democracy.

“These perpetrators must be identified and brought to justice immediately,” the Secretary General insisted. “Failure to impose exemplary punishment will only embolden them to commit larger-scale acts of sabotage. The government’s primary duty is to ensure that no citizen, regardless of their political affiliation, lives in fear.”

A Call for National Unity

Mirza Fakhrul called upon all citizens—regardless of profession or political leaning—to remain united in the struggle to protect the sanctity of the vote. He stressed that the restoration of democracy is intrinsically linked to the restoration of law and order.

The BNP leader concluded his statement by demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack on Hasan Molla and other party activists. He expressed his solidarity with the victims’ families and offered prayers for the rapid recovery of those currently hospitalised due to political violence. As the election clock ticks down, the BNP’s message remains clear: a credible poll cannot exist under a shadow of violence.