Utfal Barua, Sylhet

The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) organized a roundtable discussion titled “Counting Every Voice: Minority Participation and The Future of Bangladesh’s Democracy.” The discussion was held on Monday, 26 January 2026, at 10:00 AM at Nirvana Inn, Mirzajangal Road, Sylhet, Bangladesh. Representatives from civil society, lawyers, teachers, journalists, minority communities, and marginalized groups took part in the event. The discussion focused on the importance of equal rights and opinions of all citizens in an accountable and participatory democratic system, particularly emphasizing the necessity of ensuring meaningful participation of minority communities in the context of the upcoming National Parliamentary Election 2026. The speakers also highlighted the need to bring the voices of marginalized communities into the mainstream and ensure their active and fearless participation in the electoral process to strengthen transparency and accountability in state governance. Among the discussants were Advocate Mrityunjoy Dhor (President, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, Sylhet Metropolitan), Advocate Moloy Purkayastha (Acting President, Puja Udjapan Parishad, Sylhet Metropolitan), Advocate Bijoy Krishna Bishwas (President, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, Sylhet District), Mintu Deshowara (Sylhet Correspondent, The Daily Star), Iqbal Siddiqui (Bureau Chief, Financial Express), Aniljoy Dikar (Secretary, Khasi Social Council), Hilda Mukim (Khasi Women’s Representative), Samar Bijoy C. Shekhar (President, Sylhet District Tax Lawyers’ Association), Ronen Sarkar Rony (Lawyer), Gouranga Patra (President, Patra Community Welfare Council), Lokkhi Kanta Singh (Chief Executive Officer, Ethnic Community Development Organization), Hari Sabor (Tea Worker Leader), Shely Das (Tea Worker Leader), Professor Zahirlul Haque Shakil (Vice-Chancellor, Metropolitan University), Abdul Karim Kim (Coordinator, Aggrieved Citizens’ Movement, Sylhet), Pronob Kanti Deb (Head of Department, English Department, Sylhet International University), Advocate Emadullah Shahidul Islam Shaheen (Former President, Sylhet District Bar Association), Milon Orao (Representative, Orao Community), Professor Nazia Chowdhury (Department of Physics, SUST), Advocate Syeda Shirin Haque (President, Conscious Citizens Committee, Sylhet), Utfal Barua (Founding President, Bangladesh Buddhist Youth Council, Sylhet Region), Deacon Nijhum Sangma (Chairman, Presbyterian Church), Rajib Kumar Dey (Member Secretary, Hindu Buddhist Christian Welfare Front), Ms. Sukta (President, Hijra Youth Welfare Organization, Sylhet), Mukti (Treasurer, Hijra Youth Welfare Organization, Sylhet), Milon Robidas (President, Bangladesh Dalit Parishad, Sylhet Division), Chandra Shekhar Barua (President, Buddhist Association, Sylhet), Piyush Kanti Purkayastha (entrepreneur), along with CGS President Zillur Rahman, among others.