'We are told to lock ourselves in': As Bangladesh votes, Hindu voters say they’re living in fear

Reports red flags in minority pockets of Dhaka and Narsingdi as Jamaat denies intimidation allegations

• Bangladesh minorities face fear, insecurity ahead of February 12 polls
• Murders and intimidation spark election safety concerns for minorities
• Jamaat-e-Islami denies threats, but skepticism persists among minority voters

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As Bangladesh heads into crucial parliamentary elections on February 12, fear is spreading across minority-dominated areas following a series of killings and allegations of political intimidation.

More than two months after Moni Chakraborty was murdered inside his shop in Narsingdi district, his alleged killer remains at large. The unresolved case has become emblematic of a deeper anxiety gripping minority communities as polling day approaches.

Chakraborty was killed inside his shop in Charsindhur Bazar in what family members describe as a brutal attack. More than two and a half months later, there has been no reported arrest.

His widow now supports the family through private tuitions, while relatives say they live in constant fear. According to CNN-News18, residents in Narsingdi report multiple murders in recent weeks, intensifying insecurity ahead of the vote.

Intelligence inputs cited by CNN-News18 indicate that at least ten areas in Dhaka, primarily minority-dominated pockets, are on the security radar before the February 12 polls.

CNN-News18 visited Shakharibazar, a historic neighbourhood known for shops selling puja items and traditional shakha pola bangles worn by married Hindu women. Residents there spoke in hushed tones, expressing apprehension about the political climate.

“We are scared,” Jyoti Das told CNN-News18, alleging that cadres of Jamaat-e-Islami have issued warnings to minorities to “vote right or face action.” He said some voters may choose NOTA as a form of protest.

Jamaat-e-Islami has rejected the allegations. Speaking to CNN-News18, former Diplomatic Affairs Minister Barrister Fakrul Aslam said it was “wrong” to suggest the party was threatening Hindus.

“We do not practice the politics of majority versus minority,” he told CNN-News18.

Despite the denial, reports of warnings circulating in localities have raised questions about the atmosphere in which minorities will cast their ballots.

Facing questions over its domestic and international image, Jamaat has fielded Hindu candidates in some constituencies in what observers describe as an attempt to project inclusivity. However, residents cited by CNN-News18 say these moves are viewed with skepticism on the ground.

The broader concern centres on whether minority voters feel safe enough to participate freely in the election process.

The Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration has faced criticism over what some describe as inadequate action against recent attacks on minorities.

In a recent move seen as relief for affected families, the government announced a mud house for the family of another victim, Dipu Chandra Das. Critics argue such gestures do little to address the structural security concerns being voiced ahead of the polls.

With minorities constituting roughly 8 percent of Bangladesh’s population, the handling of their security concerns has emerged as a key test of the state’s ability to ensure credible and peaceful elections.

As the voting as begun, the central question remains whether fear will shape turnout in vulnerable pockets, and what that means for the legitimacy of the February 12 vote.