Post-Election Violence Claims One Life in Bagerhat

In Bagerhat’s Kachua Upazila, post-election clashes between supporters of the BNP and an independent candidate have resulted in the death of Osman Sardar, aged 29. He succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, 14 February, at approximately 11:30 am while receiving treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital.

The violent incident occurred on Friday evening, 13 February, in Chitabari village of Dhopakhali Union. Reports indicate that a confrontation erupted between the rival political factions, leaving Osman and at least nine others injured.

Osman Sardar, a resident of Parnowapara village in Bagerhat Sadar Upazila, was the son of Shahjahan Sardar and a supporter of the independent candidate. According to his elder brother, Enamul Kabir Sardar, the confrontation began when local supporters of the BNP-aligned “Dhaner Shish” (rice sheaf) symbol were searching for members of the “Ghoda” (horse) faction. A verbal altercation escalated, and Osman was struck on the head with a machete. He was initially taken to Bagerhat Sadar Hospital and later transferred to Khulna for advanced treatment due to the severity of his injuries. Medical staff pronounced him dead at 11:30 am on Saturday.

Asad Khan, president of the weavers’ association in Gotapara Union, said, “We were marching together for a small victory procession, visiting local markets and having tea. Despite the Dhaner Shish candidate’s defeat in Bagerhat, we follow our leader, believing in the nation-building work of Tarique Rahman. Suddenly, opponents attacked us with traditional weapons, striking with machetes. We did not provoke anyone; instead, we were victims of the assault.”

Bagerhat Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Md. Masum Khan, confirmed the death and stated, “Police have been deployed to the area. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the clashes and identify those responsible.”

The Bagerhat-2 (Sadar-Kachua) parliamentary constituency saw a competitive election. Below is a summary of the candidates and results:

Political analysts suggest that electoral tensions in the region remain high, and post-election violence could flare when rival factions confront one another. Local authorities have increased police presence in sensitive areas to prevent further incidents and ensure public safety.

This tragic death underscores the ongoing challenges of maintaining law and order in the aftermath of competitive elections in Bangladesh. Experts emphasise that political parties must exercise restraint, while law enforcement agencies need to remain vigilant to prevent similar incidents in future electoral cycles.