In Bangladesh, general elections are scheduled for February 12, and tension is escalating as violent incidents erupt just 72 hours before voting is set to begin. Notably, in the Patuaakhali area, clashes broke out at Bhandaria Bazaar around midnight, where activists from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami engaged in violent confrontations, resulting in injuries to more than 40 persons, including women. The disturbances were ignited when BNP activists accused their Jamaat counterparts of distributing money during a program, prompting an angry response from the latter.

This recent violence forms part of a troubling pattern, as reports have indicated that over five individuals have been injured in various electoral-related clashes across Bangladesh in the past month and a half. However, the scale of this conflict marks one of the most severe altercations between the BNP and Jamaat to date. With campaigning set to cease at 7:30 AM on February 10, the upcoming election has been characterized as a bipolar contest primarily between BNP and Jamaat, underscoring the heightened political rivalry and tension leading up to the electoral event.

Accusations regarding the distribution of money to sway voters have intensified the existing divisions between these two major political factions. As the electoral landscape grows more contentious, the situation raises concerns over the safety of voters and the integrity of the electoral process in Bangladesh, highlighting the challenges that lie ahead in achieving a peaceful and fair electoral environment.