The recent series of heinous killings that specifically targeted influential individuals associated with the Jubo League, the youth organization of the governing Awami League, has once more instigated unrest and fear in Bangladesh. These horrible acts, like cutting tendons and stabbing people mercilessly, are an intentional attempt to cause fear, chaos, and bring back painful memories of past tumultuous periods. While the nation under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership had been experiencing stability, the resurgence of violence orchestrated by BNP-Jamaat has disrupted this tranquility.
Chilling acts of violence
The murder of Sonaray union Awami League Jubo League leader Jahidul Islam in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha is a tragic reminder of the rising cruelty. As he was returning home, unknown assailants murdered him by cutting the tendons of hands and legs in Shakhamara Bridge area on Sunday night.
Furthermore, the occurrences concerning Oliullah Rubel in the Shahjahanpur Gulbagh locality of Dhaka and Azad Sheikh in the Kalia upazila of Narail serve to underscore the ruthless strategies implemented by these criminals. Moving to Khulna division, a separate tragedy unfolded in Narail’s Kalia upazila later that same evening.
Azad Sheikh (30), an activist of Bangladesh Awami Jubo League, was stabbed to death by miscreants. Azad was an active member of the Perulia union Jubo League and the elder brother of the union Jubo League President, Sazzat Sheikh. These brutal assassinations have shaken Bangladesh, raising concerns about political activists’ safety.
You can also read: Tragic Incidents Rock Bangladesh: Jubo League Leaders Brutally Killed in Dhaka and Narail
Resurgence of political violence
The resurgence of political activities by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami coincides with the resurgence of violence. The resurgence, characterized by the organization of road marches and heightened political maneuvering, has rekindled the animosity and conflict within the political sphere of the nation.
The BNP-Jamaat has a documented history of inciting communal discord and sowing terror by means of acts of brutality against minorities that have pledged allegiance to the Awami League. Survivors’ spooky testimonies of gang rape, dismemberment, and loss recounted in a video expose the profound anguish that these communities experience as a result of the vicious strategies employed by BNP-Jamaat.
Referring to the tortures, Sajeeb Wazed Joy stated, “BNP”S democracy means carrying out torture and oppression on opposition.”
The tragic incidents that transpired in Bangladesh in October 2001 serve as a poignant illustration of the ruthlessness inherent in the BNP-Jamaat’s regime of terror. Political violence reached historic heights, attacking minorities and political opponents with frightening ferocity, causing chaos and dread across the country. BNP-Jamaat employed menacing intimidation strategies in the run-up to the national election, employing unsettling threats in an effort to dissuade members of the public from exercising their democratic privileges. Threats of terrible consequences for individuals who participated in the election provided a bleak picture of the impending bloodshed. During this time period, the BNP-Jamaat orchestrated a reign of terror in an effort to stifle dissent and instill dread in the minds of those who opposed their political ideology. The BNP-Jamaat terror campaign targeted political opponents with impunity and governmental support.
An alarming threat for the nation
The persistent pattern of political violence in Bangladesh has presented a significant threat to the stability and advancement of the country. Fear and uncertainty have persisted due to the use of violence as a means to acquire power and stifle opposition.
The resurgence of BNP-Jamaat’s heinous tactics, exemplified by outrageous attacking and tendon cutting off, prompts an imperative inquiry: As a nation, are we willing to permit these offenders to continue terrorizing our citizens? Are we willing to grant power to those who have a history of instigating fear, bloodshed, and chaos?
We approach a critical juncture as a nation. We need to seriously consider whether we are ready to give up the stability and success we’ve worked hard to achieve under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership to those who spread hate and division. The concerning resurgence of violence orchestrated by BNP-Jamaat cannot be ignored by the nation. Individuals who profit from fostering discord and causing suffering cannot pave the way for a peaceful and progressive Bangladesh.
