At least 59 political activists were killed across Bangladesh in the first five and a half months of this year, according to data from the human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and analysis by the Bengali daily Samakal.
Of the 59 killed, 45 were members of the ruling BNP or its affiliated organizations, seven were from Jamaat-e-Islami, and seven from the banned Awami League.
Thirty of the killings resulted from intra-party feuds or clashes with members of rival parties. Of these, 23 were BNP activists, five were from Jamaat, and two from the Awami League.
Fourteen were killed in internal BNP factional violence. Eleven died in BNP-Jamaat clashes — six BNP and five Jamaat members. Five were killed in BNP-Awami League violence — three BNP and two Awami League members.
The remaining 29 were killed in other circumstances. Of these, 22 were BNP members, five were from the Awami League, and two from Jamaat.
In 13 of these cases, identified causes included disputes over territorial dominance, business rivalries, refusal to pay extortion, land disputes, family conflicts, disputes over religious event funds, and union council election-related tensions. The causes of the remaining 16 killings have not been determined.
By division, the highest number of politically motivated killings — 11 — occurred in Khulna division, followed by eight in Rajshahi, five in Dhaka, three in Mymensingh, and one each in Chittagong, Sylhet, and Rangpur divisions.
Of the 30 killed in inter-party and intra-party clashes, 14 were attacked with sharp weapons, five were shot, and 11 were beaten to death with sticks, bricks, or bare hands.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report