Politicians, civil society representatives voice concern over election, public security

Leading politicians, activists and civil society representatives today (21 December) voiced deep concerns over the safety of general people, political leaders and activists ahead of and after the upcoming national elections, citing recent incidents of violence, including the killing of Inqilab Manch spokesperson Osman Hadi and attacks on media offices.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital, speakers also questioned the state's ability to ensure public safety.

The event was organised by the Citizen Coalition and co-organised by Voice for Reform and BRAIN.

At the event, renowned photographer Shahidul Alam said, "If the government cannot protect the media or a promising young political activist, how can ordinary people feel secure? How are perpetrators able to flee the country after committing such crimes?"

He said attacks on The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, Chhayanaut and Udichi were not isolated incidents but the result of long-term targeting. 

"If the media is not safe, there is no space for the public to ask questions," he added.

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Irene Khan said the government's foremost responsibility was to conduct impartial investigations into the killing of Osman Hadi and the attacks on media outlets. 

"The public has the right to know who is behind these incidents. When the truth is not clearly communicated, conspiracy theories emerge," she said.

She also stressed that protecting free media and dissent is essential to democracy and urged all political parties to issue a joint statement rejecting violence.

Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Jonayed Saki said the country was witnessing killings on one hand and retaliatory attacks on the other, creating uncertainty around the election process. 

"People are now asking just one question – will the election even take place?" he said, adding that the government had failed to ensure security of life and property and had remained "mysteriously silent" in many cases.

Mahmuda Habiba, a member of the BNP cell, said, "If the chief adviser's press secretary feels compelled to say he wants to go underground, it raises serious questions. Attacks on newspapers can never be justified, regardless of disagreements over their reporting," she said, calling for a Bangladesh that guarantees freedom of expression.

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair warned that failure to review arms licences issued by the previous government could seriously jeopardise election security. 

"Illegal weapons will pose the biggest threat in the upcoming polls," he said, adding that repeated violence was traumatising future generations. "We do not want to lose another Hadi, Abrar or Abu Said."

Barrister Nasrin Sultana Mili, an AB Party parliamentary candidate from Dhaka-10, along with NCP leaders Akram Hossain and Ashraf Mehdi, Gana Odhikar Parishad central leader Rashed Khan, and Shah Iftekhar Tariq of Islamic Andolan, also expressed grave concerns over election-related violence and citizen security.

The discussion was moderated by Fahim Mashrur, co-coordinator of the Nagorik Coalition.