Dhaka, February 6 – In a shocking escalation of pre-election violence, unidentified gunmen opened fire on an election campaign truck in Bangladesh’s Teknaf sub-district, Cox’s Bazar, injuring five people, including a child. The attack unfolded Thursday night around 8:30 PM local time in the Ali Khali Rohingya camp area, specifically Camp-25, Block A/04.
Local media reports confirmed the incident through Teknaf Model Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, Mohammad Saiful Islam. Among the wounded were two Rohingya refugees and three Bangladeshi citizens. Eyewitnesses described a bustling scene where a crowd had gathered around the campaign vehicle before the assailants struck, sending bullets into the group and causing chaos.
This brazen assault comes amid a alarming surge in political violence ahead of the February 12 national elections. Human rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) documented a sharp rise in incidents, reporting 75 cases in January alone, resulting in 616 injuries and 11 deaths. This marks a significant increase from December’s 18 events, which claimed four lives and injured 268.
The violence intensified following the announcement of election programs and campaigning kickoff on January 22. Between January 21-31, 49 clashes erupted, killing four and wounding 414. Journalists have not been spared, with attacks rising from 11 in December to 16 in January.
ASK has urged political parties to exercise restraint and maintain peace during campaigns, while calling on law enforcement to protect citizens and uphold constitutional rights. As voting day approaches, the nation grapples with rising tensions that threaten the democratic process in this Rohingya-hosting region plagued by unrest.