---

The Declaration on Building an Inclusive Nation is the outcome of a year-long initiative undertaken by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh. This initiative sought to understand and address the barriers faced by women, youth, and marginalised communities in participating meaningfully in Bangladesh’s political process.

Over the course of 2024–2025, CGS organised a series of town halls, colloquiums, mentorship programs, and research dialogues across all regions of Bangladesh. These forums provided young citizens, women leaders, political party representatives, and members of disadvantaged communities an opportunity to voice their perspectives, share experiences, and identify the structural obstacles that continue to exclude them from decision-making.

The process culminated in the Roundtable on Inclusive Politics: Youth and Women’s Pathways to Leadership, where leaders from across the political spectrum, civil society, academia, and international partners gathered to reflect on the findings. The Declaration that emerged from this roundtable embodies the aspirations of these dialogues. It is not a binding legal document, but rather a collective moral pledge inspired by the spirit of the Liberation War, the July 2024 mass uprising, and all other pro-democracy movements in between, affirming a shared commitment to build a democratic Bangladesh where inclusion, dignity, and equality are at the core of governance.

The Declaration recognises that true inclusivity cannot be achieved by symbolic gestures alone. It calls for meaningful representation of women and youth in political parties and national policymaking, protection from harassment and intimidation, capacity-building for future leaders, and the acknowledgement of the voices of marginalised communities.

CGS is proud to make this Declaration publicly available as a living document that reflects the collective will of those who envision a fairer, more inclusive Bangladesh.

Signatories:

1. Zillur Rahman, President, Centre for Governance Studies (CGS)

2. Parvez Karim Abbasi, Executive Director, Centre for Governance Studies (CGS)

3. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Chairman, Election Reform Commission, Interim Government of Bangladesh

4. Advocate Fahima Nasrin Munni, Assistant Secretary, International Affairs, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)

5. Advocate Subikunnahar Munni, In charge, Bangladesh Lawyers’ Council, Jamaat-e-Islami Women Wing

6. Sheikh Fajlul Karim Maruf, Central Dawah and Publicity Secretary, Islami Andolan Bangladesh

7. Barrister Nasreen Sultana Mily, Joint General Secretary, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party  

8. Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Acting President, Gonoforum

9. Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, Secretary General, Jatiya Party

10. Md Rashed Khan, General Secretary, Gono Odhikar Parishad

11. Nazmul Haque Prodhan, General Secretary, Bangladesh Samajtantric Dal - Bangladesh JaSaD

12. Zahir Uddin Swapon, Adviser to the Chairperson, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)  

13. Dr Tania Haque, Professor, Department of Women and Gender Studies, University of Dhaka

14. Barrister Shihab Uddin Khan, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh

15. Barrister Rashna Imam, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh

16. Hema Chakma, Executive Member, DUCSU

17. Ambassador Nasim Firdaus, Advisor, Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) Founder and President of Bangladesh Alliance for Women Leadership (BDAWL)

18. Mominul Amin, Secretary General, NDM

Download the original signed declaration from the link below.

DOWNLOAD