Speakers at a youth-focused workshop on Saturday highlighted the importance of elections and the role of students’ unions for resuming the democratic journey of the country.
The workshop titled ‘Free and Fair Election’ was held at a hotel in Dhaka, where groups of youth in politics across the country participated, said a press release.
Local think tank Centre for Governance Studies and Germany-based foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung jointly organised the event as part of CGS’s series of initiatives to promote ideological dialogue, democratic coexistence and pluralism.
CGS president Zillur Rahman, while inaugurating the workshop, highlighted the contributions of students’ unions, especially the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, to people’s anti-establishment movement and the country’s democratic journey.
He said that the last DUCSU election was the weakest and most shameful.
‘I believe the upcoming national election is also unlikely to be free and fair, and I do not consider the current government to be neutral. Where the rule of law is established, accountability and fair elections become possible, and elections are indispensable for entering the democratic process,’ he said.
CGS executive director Parvez Karim Abbasi discussed how political development in the country had evolved with events related to elections. ‘The aim of today’s workshop is to broaden the youths’ understanding of the steps needed to organise a free, fair, and impartial election.’
FES Bangladesh programme adviser Sadhan Kumar Das said that consolidating democracy required a government formed through a credible election.
The day-long program was facilitated by Dhaka University’s development studies professor Asif M Shahan.
Participants from different student political organisations discussed democracy, ideological divides and current political realities, said the press release.
