Demand for Deployment of Special Forces and Army to Ensure Minority Security Ahead of the Election

The Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and the Metropolitan Sarbojanin Puja Committee have demanded the deployment of the army and specialized forces to ensure the safety of religious and ethnic minorities during the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. Leaders of the organization expressed this concern based on past experiences surrounding elections.

On Saturday (December 6), this demand was raised at a discussion meeting titled “The 13th National Parliamentary Election and Our Expectations,” held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital. The written statement was presented by Joyanta Kumar Dev, president of the Metropolitan Sarbojanin Puja Committee.

He said that whenever elections approach, threats and incidents of violence against minorities tend to increase. Inciting comments on social media, and hate speech at various meetings and gatherings, create fear and anxiety among minority families. This period becomes particularly sensitive for minorities living in rural and semi-urban areas.

Nine key demands were highlighted at the meeting, including:

• Prohibiting the use of religious rhetoric or religion in election campaigns,
• Ensuring minority representation in national and local government elections,
• Deploying the army and specialized forces for at least one month before and after the election,
• Taking strict measures to prevent attacks, looting, vandalism of homes, and extortion targeting minorities.

Speakers said that election-related security must not be limited to voting day alone; it is necessary to strengthen protection before and after the election as well. Many times, even after results are announced, incidents of attacks or intimidation occur. Therefore, long-term security measures are essential.

Columnist Farhad Mazhar, writer Mohiuddin Ahmed, journalist Sohrab Hasan, poet Hasan Hafiz, M A Aziz, Subrata Chowdhury, acting president of Gono Forum, and Basudev Dhar, president of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, were present at the exchange meeting, among others. The event was conducted by Tapas Chandra Pal, general secretary of the Sarbojanin Puja Committee.

Leaders of the organization expressed hope that the Election Commission and the government will take prompt and effective measures to ensure minority security so that people in any part of the country can vote without fear.