Speakers at a press conference organized by Citizens for Human Rights on Sunday demanded a safe and equal pre-election environment for religious minorities and marginalized communities ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.
The press conference was held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity and was moderated by Satej Chakma, international affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum and a member of the field observation team.
Zakir Hossain, chief executive of Nagorik Uddyog, said ethnic and religious minorities had continued to face violence and discrimination due to the failure of the state to ensure democratic governance even after 55 years of independence.
He said fear among minority communities had become common before and after elections, contradicting the spirit of the Liberation War.
He said that ahead of the upcoming election, several arson attacks targeted Hindu households, with at least 12 houses burned in Raozan since November 2025 and seven more in Mirsharai. In some cases, attackers locked families inside their homes before setting them on fire.
He added that the violence aimed to spread fear and prevent minority voters from exercising their voting rights.
Dhaka University professor Robaet Ferdous said religious and ethnic minorities were the worst victims during the interim government period. He said minorities were being treated as second-class citizens and alleged that communal violence was being used to discourage them from voting in the upcoming election.
ALRD Executive Director Shamsul Huda said most attacks on minorities were planned and had become a national problem. He urged the Election Commission to ensure special security arrangements so minority voters could cast their ballots safely.
Human rights activist Satej Chakma said field observations showed that many minority community members were leaving the country due to fear and insecurity, warning that failure to ensure voting rights would further marginalize them.
Ain o Salish Kendra representative Tawhid Ahmed Rana said the state failed to respond effectively after incidents of violence, leaving many affected families uncertain about shelter and basic necessities.
Speakers at the press conference placed five demands, including proper investigation of the attacks, arrest of perpetrators, compensation and rehabilitation for victims, mental health support for affected families, and active monitoring by the newly formed Human Rights Commission.
They also urged political parties to play an active role in ensuring minority voting rights and post-election security.