Sylhet: Speakers at a discussion on Monday highlighted the importance of equal rights and opinions of all citizens in an accountable and participatory democratic system, particularly emphasising the necessity of ensuring meaningful participation of minority communities in the context of the upcoming National Parliamentary Election 2026. The event, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), was titled ‘Counting Every Voice: Minority Participation and The Future of Bangladesh’s Democracy.’

According to United News of Bangladesh, the speakers also highlighted the need to bring the voices of marginalized communities into the mainstream and ensure their active and fearless participation in the electoral process to strengthen transparency and accountability in state governance. If the right to vote cannot be ensured in a fear-free environment, inclusive democracy will remain only a matter of words, the discussants said.

In elections, minorities must not be treated as mere vote banks; their rights and dignity must be guaranteed, they said. The event was moderated by Zillur Rahman, President of the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), and held at Nirvana Inn, Mirzajangal Road, Sylhet. Representatives from civil society, lawyers, teachers, journalists, minority communities, and marginalized groups took part in the event.

Among the discussants were Advocate Mrityunjoy Dhor, Advocate Moloy Purkayastha, Advocate Bijoy Krishna Bishwas, Mintu Deshowara, Iqbal Siddiqui, Aniljoy Dikar, Hilda Mukim, Samar Bijoy C. Shekhar, Ronen Sarkar Rony, Gouranga Patra, Lokkhi Kanta Singh, Hari Sabor, Shely Das, Professor Zahirlul Haque Shakil, Abdul Karim Kim, Pronob Kanti Deb, Advocate Emadullah Shahidul Islam Shaheen, Milon Orao, Professor Nazia Chowdhury, Advocate Syeda Shirin Haque, Deacon Nijhum Sangma, Rajib Kumar Dey, Ms. Sukta, Mukti, Milon Robidas, Utpol Barua, Chandra Shekhar Barua, Piyush Kanti Purkayastha, along with CGS President Zillur Rahman, among others.

At the beginning of the event, Zillur Rahman stated that as Bangladesh moves toward the upcoming national parliamentary election, the participation of minority communities must be viewed as a core measure of democracy, not as a side issue. Although minority communities comprise approximately 9.6 percent of the country’s population, many feel that political parties do not give due importance to their issues in electoral pledges and programs. While many parties consider minorities as vote banks during elections, visible and responsible initiatives to ensure their security, rights, and dignity are often limited.