Dhaka, Dec. 19 -- The election calendar is moving forward, but many aspiring lawmakers are doing so with hesitation, anxiety and, in some cases, a quiet question hanging over their plans: Will the vote really be held on time-and will it be safe to contest it?

Those doubts have sharpened since the daylight shooting of Sharif Osman bin Hadi, the convener of Inqilab Mancha and a potential independent candidate in the Dhaka-8 constituency.

The attack, carried out on a busy city street just a day after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the 13th national parliamentary election, sent a chill through the political class, particularly among candidates from smaller parties and independent platforms.

The election is scheduled for...