The secretary general of Okiya Parishad Rana Dasgupta today said at a press conference in Dhaka that a democratic government is essential because the ongoing struggle for human rights will not succeed without it. However, concerns about abuse against minority communities also linger among us. He stressed that The Election Commission (EC) and the election-time government have to take appropriate measures to protect minorities.
Dasgupta proposed to declare minority-dominated areas as 'sensitive areas' during polls and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members patrol sensitive areas from two days before voting day and till 15 days after.
The Parishad also pressed for the ban on the use of religion and communalism in election campaigns and a prohibition on use of all places of worship like mosques, temples, pagodas, churches for campaigning.
The Oikya Parishad, representing minority voices, also submitted a memorandum containing their demands to the chief election commissioner of Bangladesh last month.
The Parishad spokesperson said minorities were making these demands as they faced violence during election time in the past.
The parliamentary election in Bangladesh will take place on January 7 next year.
Photo Courtesy: Daily Star
Navalsang Parmar/Akashwani News/Dhaka/20.11.2023
