Sunday, January 18, 2015

Political crisis 2015 - Analysis of deaths


List of deaths below (updated to 24 Feb 2015)


A political crisis had been brewing in Bangladesh for quite some time as the anniversary of the 5 January 2014 Bangladesh election loomed. It came to a head when on 3 January, 2015 police prevented Khaleda Zia, the leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, from leaving her Gulshan office and the police then subsequently refused to give permission to allow the party to organize a rally it has planned on 5 January 2015. Khaleda Zia then announced a non-stop 'blockade' of the country, and this resulted in the arrest of a number of senior BNP leaders including almost immediately Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the party's acting secretary general on the 6 January.

Political violence is rarely absent in Bangladesh - but these events have triggered a particular spate of violence around the country. Perhaps there was a time in Bangladesh when calls for blockades or hartals would have popular support, and people would voluntarily stop commuting - but now in order for this kind of political action to have any chance of widespread success, the party calling the blockade/hartal must find a way to scare the public from using public transport, and that requires forceful intervention, including the setting fire to vehicles.

It is therefore not surprising that a call for a blockade these days generally results in violence. Opposition activists/supporters/hired hands will picket a road, they may set fire to a vehicle, and police will try and stop them. Members of the public are injured or killed from the burning of vehicles. Opposition pickets are killed when the police shoot at  the pickets, either in self defense or recklessly. Opposition activists are also killed in suspicious circumstances

Below is a list of 119 people reported in newspapers (as of 24 February) to have died since 5 January in the political violence. For every death, of course there are many injured, some of them very seriously. 

This list should not be taken as gospel - an incident may be reported as linked to political violence, when there may in fact be other reasons for it, and in a number of these cases set out below, there are conflicting accounts of what happened. In addition, the list leaves out eleven deaths at the hands of the police which do not appear to be linked to the political conflict, involving alleged robbers etc, though they may well be connected. You will find different newspapers have slightly different numbers (for example, New Age does not count two deaths - nos 8 and 27, in their count). However, the list has attempted to be comprehensive.

The list assigns responsibility either through what witnesses/police are reported in the newspapers to have said to reporters, or though the assumption that an arson attack on a vehicle will have been done by opposition picketers, and a killing of opposition activists will have been done by law enforcement authorities or by government party alliance activists. In some individuals cases, it may be found later that these are not correct assumptions and it is possible (since some government party individuals have been arrested making bombs) that not all the vehicle bombings have been done by opposition activists or those they control. It should be noted that killings by police can be lawful if proportionate force was used in the particular circumstances at that time, and the Bangladesh law enforcement authorities always do claim that any deaths of individuals in their custody or as a result of their shooting were lawfully done.
- 61 of them are members of the public who have died as a consequence of direct action by apparent opposition activists, most of them burnt to death. (nos: 5, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 41, 42, 43, 46, 47, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 62, 63, 64, 65, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 93, 97, 101, 108, 109, 112). To read more about the issue of assigning criminal responsibility for these deaths, click here.  
- 37 of them are opposition activists or pickets who have been killed or died whilst in the custody of law enforcement bodies, or during alleged 'shoot-outs', or during protests or in incidents where it has been alleged law enforcement authorities are responsible (nos: 1, 4, 6, 7, 28, 31, 32, 40, 44, 45, 48, 50, 60, 61, 66, 67, 71, 77, 78, 80, 84, 90, 94, 95, 96, 98, 99, 100, 102, 103, 104, 105, 110, 111, 116, 117, 118). To read more about these deaths, click here
- 5 of them are opposition activists apparently killed by govt supporting activists: (nos 2, 3, 27, 30, 106) 
- 5 of them are opposition picketers who died through their own actions in making bombs/picketing (no. 12, 23, 37, 79, 107) 
- 5 of them are government party activists killed apparently by opposition activists (nos 8, 9, 22, 92, 119) 
- in 6 of them the circumstances and the political identifies are unclear (no 11, 39, 68, 113, 114, 115)

The category 'Political identity/occupation' of the person distinguishes those was are involved in politics and those who are general members of the public. 



Date of death
Deceased name
Political Identity/
occupation
Location
Who Resp?
How
1
5 Jan
Abdul Majid, Uddin, 45 (also referred to as Mojiruddin)
BNP
Rajshai
Police
Shot in clash
2
5 Jan
Rakib Hossain, 20
BNP student wing
Natore
AL
Shot dead in protest
3
5 Jan
Raihan Hossain Rana, 20
BNP student wing
Natore
AL
Shot dead in protest
4
5 Jan
Jamshed Ali, 40
BNP
Chapainawaganj
Police
Shot in clash
5
6 Jan
Alok Chakrabarty, 30
CNG driver
Chandpur
Opposition picket
Vehicle rammed
6
7 Jan
Md Rubel, 28,
BNP student wing
Noakhali
Police
Shot by Police
7
7 Jan
Md Mohsin, 29
BNP student wing
Noakhali
Police
Shot by Police
8
8 Jan
Mohammad Yusuf, 35
AL Youth Front
Laxmipur
Allegedly BNP activists
Beaten to death
9
9 Jan
Mukul Ali, 44
AL
Chapainawaganj
Allegedly BNP activists
Beaten to death
10
10 jan (injury on 9th
Altaf Hossain, 45
Head master
Gaibandha
Opposition picket
Pickets attack vehicle
11
10 Jan
Imadul Islam Raju
Truck Driver
Bogra
Unclear
Head injury
12
11 Jan
Shariful Islam Sharif, 25
Jamaat student wing
Sylhet
Opposition picket
Picketer, run over
13
11 Jan (injury on 6 Jan)
Murad Ali  Mollah, 20
Bus helper
Jessore
Opposition picket
Bus burnt
14
12 Jan (injury on 7 Jan)
Atikur Rahman
Truck helper
Noakhali
Opposition picket
Hit by bricks
15
12 Jan
Pervez, 25
Passenger
Dhaka-Rangpur highway in Gaibandha
Opposition picket
Run over, running to escape petrol bomb
16
13 Jan
Enam Hossain, 40
Shopkeep travelling on a truck
Chittagong
Opposition activists
Truck crashed, after pickets threw bomb
17
13 Jan
Jamir Uddin, 32
Auto-rickshaw driver
Noakhali
Opposition picket
Hit by Bricks
18
14 Jan
Azirunnesa,
Passenger
Rangpur
Opposition picket
Bus set alight
19
14 Jan
Rahima Khatun, 65
Passenger
Rangpur
Opposition picket
Bus set alight
20
14 Jan
Rahim Badshah, 45
Passenger
Rangpur
Opposition picket
Bus set alight
21
14 Jan
Jasmine Aktar (35)
Passenger
Rangpur
Opposition picket
Bus set alight
22
14 Jan (injury on 13th)
Belal Hossain, 35
AL Youth front
Feni
Opposition activists
Beaten to death
23
14 Jan
Jubayer
Jamaat student wing
Chittagong
Opposition picket
Whilst picketing, run over
24
15 Jan (injury on 14th

Tasiran Begum, 45
Passenger
Rangpur
Opposition picket
Bus set alight
25
15 Jan
Tofazzal Hossain, 18,
Bus helper
Gazipur
Opposition picket
Bus set on fire
26
15 Jan (injury on 9 Jan)
Abul Kalam Howlader, 26
Private Car driver
Dhaka
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb hurled at parked car
27
16 Jan
 (New Age)
Morshed Alam Parvez, 24,
BNP student wing
Noakhali
Govt activists
Shot to death
28
16 Jan
Motiur Rahman, 22
BNP student wing
Chapainawabganj
RAB
RAB: alleged firefight.
JCD: Murdered
29
18 Jan
Sohag Biswas 18
Drivers assistant
Barisal
Opposition picket
Burnt from petrol bomb
30
18 Jan
Sirajul Islam, 42
BNP, Union VP
Chuadanga
Govt activists?
Hacked to death
31
19 Jan
Imrul Qayes
Jamaat
Dhaka
Police
Police: ‘In shoot out’
32
20 Jan
Nuruzzaman Jonny
BNP student leader
Dhaka
Police
Police: in ‘Shoot out’
33
20 Jan (injury on 14 Jan)
Monwara Begum
Passenger
Rangpur
Opposition picket
Bus set alight
34
20 Jan
Aslam, 35
Member of public
Rajshai
Opposition picket
Hit by vehicle avoiding pickets
35
22 Jan
Shahjahan Mia, 30
Auto-rickshaw driver
Sylhet
Opposition picket
Car lost control after petrol bombing
36
22 Jan (injury on 14 Jan)
Sanjid Islam Ovi, 19
Student
Dhaka
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb thrown
37
22 Jan
Mahbubur Rahman Bappi
BNP student leader
Dhaka
Opposition picket
Whilst making bombs
38
23 Jan (injury on 22 Jan)
Abdur Rahim Morol,
Truck helper/passenger
Dhaka (incident in Bogra)
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb thrown
39
23 Jan (injury on 13 Jan)
Jakir Hossain, 13
Member of public
Savar
Unclear
Unclear
40
23 Jan
Solaiman Uddin Jisan, 32
BNP student leader
Comilla
RAB
‘Gunfight with Rab’/’Extra-judicial killing
41
26 Jan (injury on 21 Jan)
Abdul Malek, 50
Truck Passenger
Rangpur
Opposition activist
Burnt from petrol bomb
42
27 Jan (injury on 20 Jan)
Bakul Deb Nath
Truck driver
Sylhet
Opposition picket
Burnt from petrol bomb
43
27 Jan (injury on 24 Jan)
Abdur Rashid
Truck helper
Rangpur
Opposition picket
Set fire to truck
44
27 Kan
Asadullah Tuhin
Jamaat Student wing
Chapainawaganj
RAB
Rab: Run over
Family: killed
45
28 Jan
Nurul Islam
Jamaat Student leader
Rajshai
RAB
RAB: ‘Shootout’
46
29 Jan
Motaleb
Truck Helper
Chandpur
Opposition picket
Truck crashed after petrol bombing
47
30 Jan
Mohammad Sumon, 36
Bus driver
Laxmipur
Opposition picket
Bus lost control after petrol bombing
48
30 Jan
Ariful Islam Mukul
BNP Student
Dhaka
Police (but some uncertainty)
Pol: Body found shot
Family; Picked up by police
49
31 Jan
Ganesh Chandra Das
CNG passenger
Sirajganj
Opposition picket
CNG lost
control after petrol bombing
50
31 Jan
Emdad Ullah
Jamaat Student activist
Dhaka
Police
‘Shoot-out’
51
1, Feb (injury on 23 Jan)
Nur-e Alam, 60
Bus passenger
Dhaka
Opposition picket
Bus petrol bombed
52
3 Feb (injury on 2 Jan)
Kamal Hossain
Pick up van driver
Laxmipur
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
53
3 Feb
Nuruzzaman Paplu
Bus passenger
Comilla
Opposition picket
Bus petrol bombed
54
3 Feb
Md Wasim
Bus passenger
Comilla
Opposition picket
Bus petrol bombed
55
3 Feb
Mysha  Nayma Tasnim, 16
Bus passenger
Comilla
Opposition picket
Bus petrol bombed
56
3 Feb
Shantu, 13
Bus passenger
Comilla
Opposition picket
Bus petrol bombed
57
3 Feb
Asma Begum, 35
Bus passenger
Comilla
Opposition picket
Bus petrol bombed
58
3 Feb
Abu Taher, 35
Bus passenger
Comilla
Opposition picket
Bus petrol bombed
59
3 Feb
Mohammad Yusuf, 50
Bus passenger
Comilla
Opposition picket
Bus petrol bombed
60
3 Feb

Liton Ali, 22
BNP student activist
Jessore
Police
Police: run over by truck
Family: Picked up and killed
61
3 Feb
Yusuf Miah, 25
BNP student activist
Jessore
Police
Police: run over by truck
Family: Picked up and killed
62
3 Feb
Nur Hossain Shikdur, 31
Truck driver
Barisal
Opposition picket
Truck accident after petrol bombed
63
3 Feb
Zafar Bari, 26
Truck helper
Barisal
Opposition picket
Truck accident after petrol bombed
64
3 Feb
Mamun
Truck helper
Kishoreganj
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
65
4 Feb (injury on 3 Feb)
Rashedul Islam, 25
Bus passenger
Comilla
Opposition picket
Bus petrol bombed
66
4 Feb
Shakhawat Hossain Rahat (21)
No political identify
Dhaka
RAB
RAB: shot when under attack
67
4 Feb
Mujahidul Islam Jihad (33)
No political identity
Dhaka
RAB
RAB: shot when under attack
68
4 Feb
GM Nahid
Pro-BNP family
Dhaka
Unclear
Bullet ridden body found
69
5 Feb                 
Polash Hossain
Truck driver
Bogra
Opposition picket
Truck petrol bombed
70
5 Feb
Shahidul Islam
Truck Passenger
Bogra
Opposition picket
Truck petrol bombed
71
5 Feb
Monir Hossain
Pro-BNP
Dhaka
Police
Pol: Killed when firebombing
72
5 Feb
Unidentified
Transport
Rajshai
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
73
5 Feb (injury on 17 Jan)
Shamim Mia
Police
Dhaka
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
74
6 Feb
Syed Ali, 42
Passenger
Gaibandha
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
75
6 Feb
Shilpi Rani, 10
Passenger
Gaibandha
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
76
6 Feb
Sumon Miah, 22
Passenger
Gaibandha
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
77
6 Feb

Shahidul Islam, 35
Jamaat
Jessore
Police
Pol: ‘Gunfight’
78
6 Feb
Shahbuddin Ripon
Jamaat, student
Rajshahi
Police
Pol: ‘Shootout’
79
6 Feb
Md Mongol Pramanik alias Mongol,
‘Bomb maker’
Pabna
Himself
Making bombs
80
6 Feb
Shahbuddin Patwari
Jamaat student
Comilla
Police
Pol: ‘cross fire
81
7 Feb
Ijadul Islam, 35
Truck driver
Barisal
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
82
7 Feb
Motaleb Sheikh, 65
Passenger
Barisal
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
83
7 Feb
Munna Mia, 45
Truck helper
Barisal
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
84
7 Feb
Bacchu
‘Jamaat student’?
Pirojpur
Police
Pol: Cross fire
85
7 Feb (inj on 6th )
Sujan, 12
Passenger
Gaibandha
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
86
7 Feb (inj on 6th )
Sonavan Begum, 35
Passenger
Gaibandha
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
87
7 Feb (inj on 6th )
Saju Miah, 35
Passenger
Gaibandha
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
88
7 Feb (inj on 6th )
Sona Bhan 40
Passenger
Gaibandha
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
89
8 Feb (inj on 7 Feb)
Asif, 30
Truck helper
Bogra
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
90
8 Feb
Shopon Mia alias Kala Shopon, 37
BNP, youth
Jessore
Police
Shoot out
91
8 Feb (inj on 6th )

Abul Kalam Azad, 40
Passenger
Gaibandha
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
92
8 Feb
Md Babul Mia 52,
AL leader
Noakhali
Unknown
Stabbed to death
93
8 Feb (inj on 7 Feb)
Hasib Hossain
Truck helper
Bogra
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
94
8 Feb
Raju Ahmed, 35
Alleged criminal
Jessore
Police
‘Shoot out’
95
8 Feb
Kala Swapan, 27
BNP Youth
Comilla
Police
‘Shoot out’
96
8 Feb
Jasim Uddin, 26
Jamaat
Dhaka
Police
‘Shoot out’
97
9 Feb
Shahidul Islam, 38
Truck driver
Rajshai
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
98
14 Feb
Arif, 22
Alleged Picket
Chittagong
Police
‘Shoot out’
99
15 Feb (inj on 11 Feb)
Motiar Rahman
Jamaat
Dinajpur
Police
‘shoot out’
100
15 Feb
Moshiur Rahman, 40
BNP
Magura
Police
shoot out’
101
17 Feb
Edris, 20,
Passenger
Chittagong
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
102
17 Feb
Mostafa Manjil, 32
Jamaat
Gaibandha
RAB
‘Shoot out’
103
17 Feb
Abu Syed, 48
Jamaat
Jessore
Police
Gunfight
104
17 Feb
Bojlur Rahman, 45.
Jamaat
Jessore
Police
Gunfight
105
18 Feb
Saidur Rahman Sayeed, 34
BNP
Jessore
Police
‘Shoot out’
106
18 Feb
Bazlur Rahman Bablu
BNP
Laxmipur
Unclear

107
19 Feb

Jasim Uddin, 28
‘Bomb maker’, unclear polit identity
Dhaka
Own activity
While making bomb
108
19 Feb (inj on 15 Feb)

Hossain Miah, 50
Worker
Dhaka
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
109
20 Feb (inj on 12 Feb)
Jahid Ahmed, 50
Trucker
Narshingdi
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
110
21 Feb
Kabir Mollah
BNP youth front
Barisal
Police
‘Shootout’
111
21 Feb
Tipu Hawlader
BNP Student
Barisal
Police
‘Shootout’
112
22 Feb (inj on 12 Feb)
Bappi
Bus helper
Dhaka
Opposition picket
Petrol bomb
113
22 Feb
Robin, 14
-
Dhaka
Police/lynching
Shot dead
114
22 Feb
Sumon Robi Das, 17
-
Dhaka
Police/lynching
Shot dead
115
22 Feb
Jewel,19
-
Dhaka
Police/lynching
Shot dead
116
23 Feb
Golam Azam Palas,
Son of BNP activist
Jhenidah
Police
Family claim picked up earlier by police
117
23 Feb
Dulal Biswas (23)
BNP activist
Jhenidah
Police
Family claim picked up earlier by police
118
23 Feb
Abdul Wadud Bapary
BNP student wing
Dhaka
Police
Pol: ‘Shoothout’
Family: ‘Murder’
119
23 Feb
Mosharraf Hossain, 58,
Awami League
Jessore
‘Miscreants’
Shot dead

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