A total of 507 people were killed in political violence in Bangladesh in 2013, making it the deadliest year since the country’s independence four decades ago, a human rights group said on December 31. The Ain of Salish Kendra (ASK) said most of the deaths occurred during clashes between security forces and opposition protesters over a controversial war crimes tribunal and changes to the electoral system. “A total of 507 people died in 848 acts of political violence this year,” ASK acting executive director Nur Khan Liton said.
“Police used excessive power in handling the opposition protests and in many cases they opened fire,” Liton said, adding the group’s findings were based on its own investigations and newspaper reports. The group’s figure is nearly twice the number known to have died in the political violence this year. According to an AFP count based on confirmation by police officials, 278 people have died, many by police shooting. The report came amid escalating violence across the country ahead of a January 5 general election. Opposition protesters demand that PM Sheikh Hasina quit and call off the polls.