---

Press Release

 

8 January 2026

 

Minority Safety Determines the Quality of Democracy
A state cannot be considered civilized if the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups are not ensured

— Speakers at a CGS Policy Dialogue

The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) organized a policy dialogue titled “Electoral Commitments to Inclusive Democracy and Minority Rights.”The discussion was held on Thursday, 8 January 2026, at the auditorium of CIRDAP (Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific) in Dhaka. Political leaders, civil society representatives, academics, lawyers, and human rights activists participated in the dialogue. In the context of the upcoming national election, the discussion focused on the extent to which inclusion, minority rights, and democratic values are reflected in political parties’ electoral manifestos and political narratives.

Speakers and participants included Dr. Rounaq Jahan, Distinguished Fellow of CPD and political scientist; Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of SHUJAN; Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami; Ho Chi Minh Islam, Trans Feminist, Gender and Sexual Rights Activist; Mostafizur Rahman Faisal, Joint Secretary General of Khelafat Majlis; Nazmul Haq Prodhan, General Secretary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad); Rashna Imam, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh; Professor S. M. Shameem Reza of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Dhaka; Sanjeeb Drong, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum (BIPF); Sayeed Ferdous, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University; Shamim Haider Patwary, former Member of Parliament from Jatiya Party (JP); Sheikh Fazle Bari Masud, Joint Secretary General of Islami Andolan Bangladesh; Mominul Amin, Secretary General of the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM); Advocate and BNP leader Shihab Uddin Khan; Subrata Chowdhury, General Secretary of Gano Forum; labor leader and rights activist Taslima Akter; and Uzzal Azim, Programme Manager of Kapaeeng Foundation, among others.

At the beginning of the event, Zillur Rahman, President of the Centre for Governance Studies, stated that inclusive democracy, minority rights, and electoral commitments are closely interconnected. He noted that minority communities face numerous barriers and risks when participating in the electoral process, making the role of political parties critically important. Although political manifestos often include promises related to minority rights and inclusion, these commitments are rarely reflected in practice. He emphasized that political parties must clearly articulate what reforms they will undertake before the national election to ensure inclusion, protect minority rights, and eliminate discrimination. He further observed that accountability for post-election implementation of manifesto commitments remains weak. He added that governance in line with the Constitution and the Proclamation of Independence is frequently neglected. Despite discussions on reform and justice following the July movement, he said, there has been little tangible progress. He also expressed concern about whether the upcoming election would be peaceful and participatory.

Political scientist Dr. Rounaq Jahan stated that the quality of a democracy is partly determined by how safe and included minority communities feel. What matters is whether minority identities are imposed from outside or defined by the communities themselves. If individuals or groups do not wish to identify as minorities, that label cannot be imposed upon them. She cited women as an example of this complexity, noting that although women are a demographic majority, they are often treated as a minority in terms of political representation and electoral power. While manifestos frequently include commitments to inclusion and equal rights, she stressed that these must be clearly documented, accompanied by realistic timelines, and followed by measurable implementation. Referring to international experiences, she noted that many foreign universities were once dominated by white populations with limited representation of people of color. Through affirmative action and diversity policies, representation has since expanded, demonstrating that intentional policy choices can foster meaningful inclusion. She emphasized that ensuring rights is a collective responsibility requiring cooperation among political parties, institutions, and society. However, she stressed that rights cannot be discussed separately from safety. When citizens must prioritize personal security in their own country, rights lose their meaning. Political parties, she said, must ensure that people are not forced to choose between voting and personal safety during elections.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of SHUJAN, said that inclusive democracy must be clearly reflected in electoral manifestos. A state cannot be considered civilized if the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups are not ensured. He emphasized that voter inclusion, fear-free voting, and transparent electoral processes form the foundation of inclusive democracy. Although manifestos may not be formally signed, he noted, they constitute a social contract between political parties and the people. Therefore, manifestos must be justiciable and the promises made to citizens must be implementable. He stressed that elections must be lawful, free, and fair, and that democracy cannot be established without elections free from manipulation. While elections are the first step of democracy, he added, it is the conduct of political parties after elections that ultimately defines democratic practice. He also raised concerns about the need for constitutional renewal, the extremely low representation of women, and the declining quality of the education system. Political parties, he said, must draft responsible manifestos and clearly state their positions so that citizens can make informed choices.

Mominul Amin, Secretary General of the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), stated that the term “fascism” began to be widely used in Bangladesh after the 2009 election and has re-emerged in discussions in the context of political repression and the events of July. However, he emphasized that labeling any individual or party as fascist should be determined through judicial processes. He argued that inclusive democracy requires genuine political will and real commitments to the people. According to him, true inclusive democracy can only be established when all segments of society are adequately represented in Parliament.

Sayeed Ferdous, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Open University, stated that there is an inherent crisis within the nation-state itself, and imagining Bangladesh solely as a Bengali state marginalizes non-Bengali and minority communities. He noted that since 1971, minorities defined by religion, ethnicity, gender identity, and class have faced continuous marginalization, which is directly linked to electoral processes. He observed that violence against Indigenous peoples, women, and other marginalized groups has increased following the July events, and that equality remains elusive in Bangladesh. Women, he added, have limited representation in major political parties, and there is a broader deficit of trust in the electoral process.

Ho Chi Minh Islam, Trans Feminist and Gender and Sexual Rights Activist, said that the identity he carries remains socially contested, with no clear state-level recognition or decision. He recalled that people of diverse identities, including hijra and third-gender individuals, participated in the 1971 Liberation War, yet were denied state recognition and rights after independence. He stressed that majority groups cannot unilaterally determine the future or rights of minorities, and that freedom and rights are non-negotiable.

Nazmul Haq Prodhan, General Secretary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad), stated that inclusive democracy was not established after 1971, nor has it been realized following the July 2024 movement. He argued that the interim government has lost credibility by filing murder cases against everyone indiscriminately, as not all individuals were involved in such crimes. Politics of vengeance, he said, cannot produce inclusion.

Rashna Imam, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, emphasized that realism and effectiveness are paramount when discussing electoral manifestos. Manifestos, she said, should not rely solely on aspirational language but must include realistic policies and clear implementation frameworks. While minority issues are frequently discussed, she stressed that manifestos must clearly specify how minority rights will be realized. She identified three essential elements that must be ensured in electoral manifestos: public participation, expert involvement in policymaking, and clear accountability of the elected government.

Sanjeeb Drong, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum, noted that although the 1992 United Nations Declaration on Minority Rights affirms the protection of minority rights, minorities continue to face widespread discrimination in practice. Despite legal equality, disparities between rich and poor and the lack of constitutional equality in practice result in the continued neglect of minority concerns. He stated that Bangladesh can only be considered truly developed when minority communities themselves can say that they are safe and that their rights are ensured.

Former Member of Parliament Shamim Haider Patwary of the Jatiya Party (JP) said that problems cannot be resolved through statistics alone; pluralistic perspectives and the voices of minorities must be given due importance. He argued that after the Awami League era, the country’s priority should have been national unity, but instead a new form of authoritarianism has emerged, with questions being raised about state involvement in violence during the interim government period. He emphasized the need for targeted and specific measures for minority communities, including parliamentary quotas for third-gender communities, the removal of structural barriers, and the establishment of a Minority Commission.

Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair stated that the July Charter signals an important shift by proposing timely and substantive reforms, along with clear expectations of implementation. Regardless of numerical status, he said, everyone is a citizen of the country and there is no intention to confine any group to limiting labels. He added that issues of women’s safety and dignity have been prioritized in the manifesto, alongside other immediate and long-term concerns, and that a clear implementation roadmap has been included.

Mostafizur Rahman Faisal stated that minority rights and democratic practice do not always advance in parallel. Smaller political parties, he noted, are also sometimes treated as minorities. The absence of inclusion creates a vacuum within the political system. While minority-related frameworks are included in manifestos, responsibility does not rest with political parties alone; representatives of minority communities also have a role to play. He added that although the term “minority” is often used in a religious sense, religious identity itself is not the core issue.

Professor S. M. Shameem Reza stated that despite countless meetings, dialogues, and discussions on inclusion, very little has changed in reality. This raises an uncomfortable question: if the Constitution recognizes everyone as equal citizens and identifies all as Bengali, why does the term “minority” continue to be used so persistently? Legal equality, he said, is not reflected in everyday life, reducing inclusivity and minority rights to rhetorical talking points.

Sheikh Fazle Bari Masud stated that his party does not believe in discrimination based on religion or gender. By avoiding divisions, he said, all citizens should be able to live with dignity and enjoy their basic rights. Compared to neighboring countries, he argued, Bangladesh provides stronger legal recognition of minority rights and remains committed to ensuring their implementation in practice.

Shihab Uddin Khan stated that over time many minority communities have been losing their languages and cultural traditions, with festivals increasingly celebrated under pressure. He noted that the concept of minority has become more complex, as economic deprivation also creates a form of minority status. Wealthy groups can influence elections, while economically disadvantaged people are pushed to the margins. He questioned whether this situation is just.

Subrata Chowdhury stated that minorities face severe discrimination in nearly every sphere of life, and that harassment and violence intensify during election periods. Whether parties win or lose, he argued, it is ordinary people who suffer. Referring to arson attacks on the offices of The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, and Chhayanaut, he said that accountability and justice have yet to be ensured.

Taslima Akter stated that although the Constitution guarantees equality, people do not enjoy equal rights in practice. Ensuring the dignity of every citizen is therefore essential. No one, she said, should have to live in fear while observing religious or cultural festivals. She questioned whether members of the Muslim majority face the same fear during their festivals. They do not. This contrast, she argued, clearly exposes existing inequalities. Equal dignity and security are not privileges but fundamental rights that the state must ensure for all.

Uzzal Azim stated that inclusion, democracy, and minority rights are not merely policy concerns but are directly linked to Bangladesh’s democratic future. He called for formal recognition of Indigenous peoples, an effective Land Commission, reserved seats in Parliament, dedicated budget allocations, withdrawal of false cases, and the use of mother tongues in education. Despite constitutional guarantees, he noted, discrimination and insecurity persist. This, he said, is not only a minority issue but a human rights concern for all citizens. The government must present a practical roadmap to ensure inclusive, participatory, free, and fair elections.

The event was moderated by Zillur Rahman, President of the Centre for Governance Studies.

  

About Centre for Governance Studies-

CGS is a think tank based in Bangladesh conducting research and media studies on issues of Good Governance, Corruption, Human Rights, Democracy, and Development. The Centre was established to address the challenges for Bangladesh in coping with the rapidly changing national and global scenarios. The Centre aims at facilitating collaborative efforts among the academic community, government, private sector, civil society and development partners to improve the quality of governance, address the security needs of Bangladesh, foster the conditions for efficient and prudent utilisation of available resources towards poverty reduction, human resource development, and stabilisation of political and social order through increased democratisation, participation and sustainable economic development.

 

For more queries-

Sanjoy Debnath

Public Relations Coordinator

Centre for Governance Studies

E-mail: [email protected] 

Contact No: +880171790853

https://cgs-bd.com