Voter security emerges as key challenge ahead of election

Violence and insecurity surrounding the upcoming election have emerged as major challenges to citizens' trust, with security now identified as the top concern for voters in Bangladesh, according to a recent public opinion survey conducted by Democracy International.

The survey found that 92 percent of citizens would not vote for political parties or candidates involved in violence, while election-day violence was identified as the primary factor discouraging voter turnout. The findings indicate that insecurity has become a decisive issue in shaping electoral participation.

Against this backdrop, a dialogue titled "Voting and Voter Security", jointly organised by Jamuna Television and Democracy International, was held, bringing together representatives of political parties, election experts, researchers and the media to discuss voter safety and electoral integrity.

Chief of Party at Democracy International Catherine Cecil said citizens' concerns are no longer hypothetical but reflect present realities. She noted that the survey also found 27 percent of voters remain undecided. "Violence not only discourages voters but also undermines the credibility of the entire electoral process," she said.

Principal Director of Democracy International Md Abdul Alim said many weapons looted following the July uprising have yet to be recovered, posing serious risks to election security. He stressed that political parties should have jointly established clear guidelines to ensure voter safety.

Professor of Sociology at University of Dhaka Dr Samina Lutfa said there is no clear assurance of security for women, indigenous communities and minorities before or after elections. She added that inadequate party discipline further heightens public anxiety.

Senior Reporter at Channel 24 Jenia Kabir Shuchona highlighted the importance of ensuring a safe and lawful environment for journalists during elections, urging political parties to prevent undue influence by overenthusiastic activists.

Joint Secretary of the National Citizens' Party Advocate Humayra Noor said the use of muscle power by major parties also threatens candidates' security, creating obstacles to a fair electoral process.

At the same time, Central Executive Committee member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Abdur Rob questioned the role of the Election Commission, stating that a level playing field has yet to be ensured. He also expressed concern about perceived administrative bias and called for a culture of public accountability among party workers.

BNP research team member Dr Abdullah Al Mamun said political parties are learning from past mistakes, noting that complaint hotlines have been introduced and that the party remains strict in dealing with internal misconduct.

Participants at the dialogue agreed that restoring voter confidence will require moving beyond political pledges to visible action, including strict party discipline, concrete security measures and firm steps against violence, which they identified as the primary expectations of citizens ahead of the election.