Law enforcement must prevent violence against minorities

The minority communities in Bangladesh are anxious about their security during the elections as their past experience hasn't been too pleasant.

These minority groups may face pressure and intimidation during the electioneering before the polls, and may face direct or indirect obstacles to casting their votes for candidates of their choice on the polling day. They may even be targetted even after the election.

Such a situation is unacceptable in any democratic country governed by rule of law. 

The chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh has urged various political parties in a civil dialogue on Tuesday to include the issue of security for the minority groups in their respective election manifestos. He also asked all human rights activists to stay alert about this during the election.

His appeal is appropriate and timely.  If the political parties are sincere in ensuring the security of the minority communities and make commitments in their election manifestos, the fear of these communities may be mitigated to an extent.

Although the political parties in the country do not fulfill many promises made in the manifesto, the written documents still have some significance. It creates a sense of accountability.

According to a report published in Prothom Alo on Wednesday, there are more than 10 per cent voters from minority communities in 96 of the 300 constituencies across the country. And 58 of these areas are at significant risk of attacks on minority groups before and after the election.

Leaders of the Sectors Commander Forum, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad met a group of representatives of ruling Awami League led 14-party alliances on Tuesday.

The leaders urged the election commission and local administration to be more vigilant to ensure security for the minorities during the election.

Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad general secretary Rana Das Gupta said, a large number of minorities were attacked before and after every national and local polls held after 1990.

The people of these communities are living in tension and fear ahead of 11th parliamentary election, he continued.

Rana Das Gupta expressed his concern to Prothom Alo on Friday about the issue saying, Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad  came to know that a number of minority families have fled the country in fear of poll-time violence.

Those who already left the country will decide after the election whether or not they will return, he added.

It is easily assumed from Rana Das Gupta’s statement that how the people of minority communities are feeling right now. It is high time the government, election commission, law enforcement and all political parties take the matter seriously.

Although the election commission is an independent organisation and supposed to receive all types of support from the government during election, the responsibility of ensuring law and order and public security remains in the government’s hands.

Therefore, the role of election-time government administration, especially the police and other security forces, is significant.

The duty and responsibility of the public administration must not depend on the changing power politics. It is the earnest duty of the law enforcement to ensure the safety of various ethnic groups and communities regardless of any political party at state power.

Political parties also  have a grave responsibility to ensure the security of minorities before and after elections. They should send instructions to their respective leaders and activists to ensure the safety of minorities. Any possible repetition of post election violence against minorities as before in 2001 must be prevented at any cost.