Fears and anxieties may discourage minority communities from voting

Minority communities want to exercise their citizenship rights by voting. However, their fears and concerns regarding life, livelihood, property, and dignity are not subsiding in any way. These fears and concerns may discourage minority communities from voting, said the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.

On Thursday morning, at a press conference held at the National Press Club on “ongoing communal violence and the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election,” the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council stated these matters in a written statement. The organization arranged the press conference.

The written statement was read by the acting General Secretary of the Unity Council, Monindra Kumar Nath. The written statement said that the responsibility for discouraging minority communities from voting must be taken by the government, the administration, the Election Commission, and political parties. It called for a firm role of the Election Commission and all concerned authorities to quickly change this undesirable situation.

The Unity Council said that only 14 days remain for the election. Communal violence, which continued last year, is still ongoing. In the first 27 days of January this year, there were 42 incidents of communal violence, including 11 killings.

The council further said that religious and ethnic minorities, indigenous communities, and especially women across the country are constantly living in fear and terror. Minority business owners are unable to conduct their businesses normally from their own places. In this situation, minority communities are being forced to relocate internally. This time, in the national parliamentary election, in the name of a public referendum, “Yes” and “No” votes have been introduced. Here, secularism has been excluded, and a principle of state governance has been declared. The government and the Election Commission are directly campaigning in favor of it. The Unity Council described this as unfortunate, regrettable, and extremely biased.

The Unity Council commented that the secular, non-communal, and discrimination-free constitution of Bangladesh is now facing a challenge. They believe that this will become an obstacle for minority communities to obtain equal rights as citizens of Bangladesh. In this situation, the safe movement of minority communities to polling centers and casting votes according to their own choices is a major challenge, the council said.

In this situation, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council made seven demands from the press conference. These are: First, religious-ethnic minority voters should be able to go to polling centers without hindrance. No one should face any kind of barrier due to candidacy. The Election Commission must create a level playing field so that they receive equal opportunities to participate in election campaigning.

Second, the use of religion and communalism in election campaigns should be banned. If any candidate or any party uses religion and communalism in the election, there should be provisions for punishment.

Third, in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, a suitable environment should be ensured for minorities and indigenous communities to vote safely and without hindrance. If necessary, their security should be ensured through the deployment of the army.

Fourth, to ensure the security of religious-ethnic minorities during the pre-election and post-election period and to control law and order situations, minority-dominated areas should be identified as “vulnerable” areas, and regular patrols by police, Ansar, as well as the army, RAB, and BGB should be arranged. A “monitoring cell” should be formed for regular monitoring.

Fifth, all measures taken by the Election Commission for the security of minorities should be properly communicated to the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, all members of law enforcement agencies involved in the election, and political parties.

Sixth, the use of any religious places of worship including mosques, temples, pagodas, and churches in election campaigning should be banned.

Seventh, hate speech, statements, rumor-mongering, or any such propaganda of religious hatred should be considered a crime under the Special Powers Act.