The 18 parties, including BNP, had previously announced the elimination of election. After the announcement of the election schedule in November, they took their position in the field. However, the government was also prepared to prevent them. But still, loss of life could not be decreased.
Last year, from the very next day after the announcement of election schedule on 5 November, the opposition party BNP led 26-day blockade program at six phases. This time 123 people lost their lives across the country. And Sunday, in the Election Day at least 18 people were killed in different places for various violent incidents. Overall 141 people had to give their lives for this election.
This number of loss of life had never happened before
In 1991, after the creation of a democratic regime, six general elections were held until Sunday. However, so much loss of life had never happened in any election at before. In 1996, BNP held the election without the main opposition party Awami League, including other political parties. That year 41 people were killed regarding the election. Then around 38 people were killed in the 2001 election. Finally, no violence had occurred in the 2008 elections because the election had been held under the military government.
Despite the loss of so many lives, the Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandakar told that the election was peaceful despite some isolated incidents. Then why is so much loss of lives? Responding to this question, he said, ''everything should not be mixed with the election. Not only, election, but also the punishment of the war criminals is also being held to a quarter of terrorists is still occurring some violence separately.'' The police chief claimed that the situation is under control.
The highest death toll in the last year
Along with election based, violence due to political violence, the highest number of death happened at last year. According to Human Rights Organization Law and Shalish Kendro, due to the war crime's judgment of 1971, in the year-end, a one-sided election schedule announcement and the blockade program of the opposition party 507 people died throughout the year. Around 22,407 people were injured.
But death is not new
In 2001, though the election was held under Caretaker Government, violence occurred. That year, on 1 October, in the week before the eighth general election, 38 people were killed in the election based violence. At least 1672 people were injured. That the incident took place because of domination in electoral areas and showing violence. Besides, political violence was remained all year around.
BNP held a unilateral election on 15 February 1996. That year, from 7 January to 30 March, Awami League called 21 days general strike. After the announcement of election schedule on 8 and 9 January, Awami League called a 48-hour general strike. However, BNP submitted their nominations by ignoring the strike. Then on 14 February, Awami League called 48-hour general strike across the country and declared to resist the election. However, the election was held by BNP. Then start a non-cooperation movement. After passing the bill of the caretaker government by Khaleda Zia on 6 March 1996, non-cooperation movement ends. Though the movement was a continuous program, political violence was not so awful then. Total 49 people were dyed political violence in that year. After the announcement of election schedule, a total of 41 people died in the violence.
Loss of lives occurred before the election
The National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman told that it was sad but true that in each election, the political violence took the lives of people. However, it is very clear that this year, before the election, Jamaat intentionally, created violence, planned murder and bombings across the country in order to dismiss the war criminal judgment. If we name all of them as political violence, that will be not right. However, so many deaths on the Election Day really concern us. Law enforcement department should have been more careful, and that could help to reduce a lot of lives.
