Over 90% of Post-August Violence Linked to BNP–Jamaat Forces
A recent study by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) reveals that the vast majority of violence incidents that occurred after 5 August were linked to activists and leaders of the main opposition political party. The research, covering the 17-month period from August 2024 to December 2025, found that 91.7% of all documented violent incidents were associated with opposition party members.
The study also showed that 20.7% of the incidents involved members of the ruling party, while 7.7% were connected to another political organisation and 1.2% were attributed to the National Citizen Party. In total, researchers documented 600 violent incidents nationwide during the period, resulting in 158 deaths and 7,082 injuries.
Of the documented cases, 550 incidents involved opposition party leaders or activists, indicating significant involvement in clashes and confrontations. Members of the ruling party were linked to 124 incidents, with other groups involved in comparatively fewer cases.
The report attributes much of the unrest to competition over control of local institutions and economic activities that were previously under political influence. These included disputes over transport hubs, market leases, bridges, river sand quarries, and other shared resources. The research also highlighted that internal disciplinary mechanisms within political parties have been largely ineffective in curbing violence and unlawful behaviour among their members.
