Roundtable discussion held on free and inclusive national parliament elections

Leaders from various political parties and representatives from civil society attended the roundtable. The speakers stressed the importance of ensuring participation from all stakeholders and highlighted the need to reform the election process.

Participating in the discussion, Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of BNP’s Standing Committee, said, “In the upcoming election, it will be the people who oversee the process; the role of law enforcement agencies will be secondary.” He added, “The judiciary must be independent and strong. If BNP comes to power, it will form a new commission and consider opinions from all social classes.”

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stated, “So far, the government has not provided any guarantee for a fair election. If irregularities occur, the election should be annulled and re-conducted.”

Akhtar Hossain, Member Secretary of the National Citizens Party (NCP), emphasized, “Political parties must work sincerely to ensure a peaceful transfer of power and free elections.”

The roundtable also discussed the importance of women’s voting rights and their representation in elections. Rasheda K. Chowdhury, former adviser to the caretaker government, said, “Women still face a trust deficit in exercising their voting rights, which needs to be addressed.”

Mahrooq Mahiuddin, organizer of the Women’s Political Rights Forum, added, “Those who come to power must serve not only men but all citizens, especially marginalized populations.”

Sanjib Drong, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Forum, said, “Minority indigenous people have limited opportunities to be elected, so reserved seats must be ensured for them.” He added that political parties should prioritize the rights of indigenous people, land rights, and cultural diversity in their election manifestos.

Freedom of the media was also discussed. Salahuddin Ahmed of BNP said, “Ensuring media freedom is essential, as it is a cornerstone of democracy in Bangladesh.”

Concerns were raised about pre- and post-election violence. Speakers urged all political parties to avoid violence and prepare to conduct elections peacefully.

At the end of the roundtable, Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said, “Those responsible for governance must remember that half of the country’s population is female. Inclusive participation is essential for the overall development of the nation.”

All speakers at the roundtable agreed that the sincere commitment of political parties and cooperation from all stakeholders are crucial to organizing free, inclusive, and peaceful national parliament elections.