Call to end political tagging and mob violence to protect minorities
While women's contributions to the Liberation War were acknowledged, gender minority fighters remained absent from post-war narratives despite their participation
Ensuring the safety of minority communities, ending political tagging and mob violence, and institutionalising electoral pledges within accountable frameworks emerged as key demands at a dialogue in Dhaka today (8 January).
The discussion, titled "Inclusive Democracy, Minority Rights and Electoral Pledges," was organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) in the capital today.
It focused on how realistic and credible political parties' pledges are in safeguarding minority rights, security, civic freedoms and political participation ahead of the upcoming 13th national election.
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Participants noted that without addressing the prevailing sense of insecurity, constitutional rights and democratic inclusion would remain ineffective. The dialogue called for clear policy positions from political parties, legal and administrative preparedness to protect minorities, and the practical implementation of politics free from hatred and discrimination.
Highlighting recent political realities, teacher and researcher Saeed Ferdous said that various forms of repression had been witnessed since July, adding that the culture of political labelling had made mob violence alarmingly easy. He remarked that there was little space to openly state that such acts ran counter to the spirit of July's political developments.
Trans feminist and rights activist Ho Chi Minh Islam noted that while women's contributions to the Liberation War were acknowledged, gender minority fighters remained absent from post-war narratives despite their participation.
Former lawmaker Shamim Haider Patwary stressed the need for political coordination in state governance, saying that both victorious and defeated forces must be accommodated. He warned that incidents such as the desecration of graves were not spontaneous, but rather enabled by political mandates rooted in hate politics.
Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Badiul Alam Majumdar said parties had yet to clearly outline their commitments to democratic tolerance, governance and poverty alleviation, urging them to make explicit pledges on these fundamental issues.
Political scientist and CPD fellow Rounaq Jahan underscored that insecurity had reduced citizenship rights to a secondary concern. Referring to election-related violence, she said minorities historically faced the greatest fear before and after polls, regardless of whether they voted, and questioned what concrete preparations were being made this time.
Addressing concerns about minority safety in a religion-based state, Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Ahsanul Mahbub Jubayer said his party would ensure equality for all citizens regardless of faith or worldview if elected.
From an indigenous perspective, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum general secretary Sanjeeb Drong said the country's claim to civilisation depended on the well-being of its indigenous peoples, stressing the responsibility of the majority community to actively protect minority languages and cultures.
The dialogue was moderated by CGS President Zillur Rahman. Other speakers included JSD General Secretary Nazmul Haque Pradhan, Gano Forum General Secretary Subrata Chowdhury, Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Ahmad Abdul Qader, Islami Andolon Bangladesh Joint Secretary General Sheikh Fazle Bari Masud, BNP-affiliated Krishak Dal Joint Secretary General Mahmuda Habiba, Supreme Court lawyer Rashna Imam, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum Land and Law Secretary Ujjal Azim, and barrister Shihab Uddin Khan.
