At a dialogue titled “Civil Society’s Expectations for Ensuring Inclusive and Fair National Elections” held on Wednesday (Sept 24) at Prothom Alo’s office in Karwan Bazar, speakers stressed that the Election Commission alone cannot ensure fair polls. The entire state structure—including political parties, administration, law enforcement, and media—must play their roles to guarantee a safe, inclusive, and violence-free election. The event was organized by ActionAid Bangladesh under the EU-supported Sushil Project, with Prothom Alo as a promotional partner.
Speakers raised concerns over electoral violence, weak implementation of reforms, and lack of women’s political rights. Activist Nazifa Jannat emphasized the urgent need for security, electoral debates, and consensus-building, while Halida Hanum Akhtar of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission warned that without boosting police morale and ensuring law and order, fair elections would remain “only on paper.” Human rights activist Ilira Dewan cautioned against token inclusion, urging real attention to minority voices, while Afroza Soma (AIUB) demanded 33% women’s representation, calling out the male-dominated reform bodies for sidelining women’s rights.
Other speakers pointed to systemic barriers: Dhaka University’s Shaon Talukder highlighted money, muscle, and misinformation as threats to fair elections, while journalist Tanjim Ferdous stressed fact-checking election-time violence and monitoring candidate expenditures. Moniruzzaman Khan of the Bangladesh Disabled Development Trust called for accessible voting, including ballots in Braille and support for voters with disabilities. Participants concluded that unless political parties, state institutions, and the media collectively ensure rights and accountability, inclusive elections will remain unattainable.
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