Bangladesh witnessed a tragic incident a day before the parliamentary elections when Ratan Shuvo Kar, 28, a Hindu worker at the Champara Tea Garden in Islampur division under Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar, about 190 kilometers from Dhaka, was found dead with his hands and feet tied, according to a report by The Daily Star citing Kamalrge-Chinj Abdul police office.
His body was reportedly found in a garden in northeastern Bangladesh. Residents discovered the body around 10:00 am in a tea garden and informed the authorities, which led to police reaching the spot.
According to locals, the body showed clear signs of injury and was found soaked in blood. Some residents suspect that Ratan was killed elsewhere and his body was later dumped in the tea garden.
His elder brother Laxman Kar said the family had been searching for him since the previous evening.
We were informed this morning (yesterday) that his body was lying in the garden. We went there and identified him. We don’t know why he was killed,” the report quoted him as saying.
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The body was taken to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital for postmortem. Police said the matter is under investigation.
Bangladesh election
The parliamentary election comes at a time of major political transition, following the death of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and the continued ban on her arch-rival Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League.
The vote is widely seen as a pivotal moment as the nation seeks to overcome the decades-long “Battle of Begums” era.
Ballot counting will begin at 4pm on February 12 and the Electoral Commission is expected to formally announce the results on the morning of February 13 after the counting is complete.
Bangladesh has 59 registered political parties, although the Awami League’s registration was suspended by the Election Commission last year, preventing it from fielding candidates. Of the remaining parties, 51 are participating in these elections. There are a total of 1,981 candidates in the race, including 249 independents.
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The parties running in the election include Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Jatiya Party (JP-Quader), Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad), Left Democratic Alliance and Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), according to Al Jazeera.
Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is seen as the frontrunner to head the next government. The son of former prime minister Khaled Zia returned to Bangladesh in December after spending 17 years in self-imposed exile in London. Rahman promised to strengthen democratic institutions, enforce the rule of law and boost the country’s struggling economy.
The BNP is opposed by a coalition of 11 parties led by Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party. The party, which was banned during Hasina’s tenure, has re-emerged and gained visibility after her removal. His growing influence has raised concerns, particularly among women and minority groups, that civil liberties could face restrictions if he takes power. Bangladesh’s population is more than 90% Muslim, with Hindus making up about 8%, the AP reported.
The Parliament of Bangladesh has 350 seats, with 300 members directly elected from single-member constituencies and 50 seats reserved for women. Representatives are elected by the system of first composition and the legislature serves a five-year term. The Election Commission recently postponed voting in one constituency following the death of a candidate.