Government agencies, law enforcement bodies, legal professionals and civil society organizations must work in coordination to better protect the rights and security of marginalized communities, speakers said at a meeting in Rajshahi on Saturday.
They emphasized the need for collective efforts to prevent violence, address human rights violations and ensure constitutional protections for vulnerable groups.
The discussion took place at a coordination meeting organized by the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) under its Songhati project, with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), at Hotel Warisan in the city.
Chairing the event, BLAST Board Member Advocate Jamshed Ali said legal support alone is not enough to safeguard human rights, stressing the importance of public awareness and stronger institutional coordination.
Additional Superintendent of Police Sabina Yasmin said law enforcement agencies remain committed to ensuring the safety of marginalized communities and preventing any attempt to incite communal violence.
She underscored the need for cooperation between police and civil society to maintain social harmony and respond swiftly to emerging threats.
Presenting the keynote paper, Durdana Farid, senior outreach officer and team leader of the Songhati project, said the district platform would function as a Rapid Response Forum to identify potential communal tensions, coordinate with authorities and facilitate timely interventions.
She said the platform would also work to identify incidents of violence, displacement of minority communities and gaps in legal and social services, enabling stakeholders to take effective preventive measures.
Participants also discussed the local security situation, previous incidents of rights violations, challenges in accessing legal aid and social services, and emerging risk areas.
Speakers expressed hope that such collaborative initiatives would strengthen protections for marginalized and minority communities while contributing to a more inclusive, non-discriminatory and rights-based society.
