'Ensure minorities’ JS representation as per demographic ratio'

Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad today urged all political parties and their alliances to ensure proportionate representation and participation of minorities in the parliament according to their demographic ratio.

“We hope all democratic-minded people of the country will come forward to vote for the minority candidates to ensure the representation and participation of the minority communities in the parliament, said the platform's General Secretary Advocate Rana Dasgupta.

He was speaking at a press conference held at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka this morning.

So far the number of candidates from minority communities, who have been nominated by different political parties to contest in the upcoming parliamentary election, is apparently more positive compared to the previous terms, he said.

Advocate Dasgupta, however, claimed that despite repeated calls from the platform not to nominate candidates, who were involved in oppression of minority communities, in the upcoming elections, a number of “controversial candidates” have been nominated.

He also urged all political parties to incorporate the issues like empowerment and representation, abolishment of all discrimination, and establishing equal rights and dignity in their manifestos.

Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad President Prof Nim Chandra Bhowmik was also present during the press briefing.