JAAGO divisional dialogue spotlights youth and women’s role in democracy

A divisional dialogue organised by JAAGO Foundation Trust in Dhaka has focused on the role of young people and women in strengthening democratic participation, as part of a nationwide series under the AHEAD Bangladesh Project, funded by the European Union.

The event, titled “Inclusive Civic and Democratic Engagement”, was held under the “Ekannor Jaagoron” (The Rise of 51) initiative and brought together political actors, civil society representatives and young participants. The project is supported by the European Partnership for Democracy, and is being implemented across all eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh.

According to the organisers, the dialogue aimed to connect national democratic commitments with local realities by encouraging informed, inclusive and participatory civic engagement at the grassroots level. Discussions centred on democratic values, civic rights and responsibilities, electoral participation, the spread of misinformation, and the barriers facing youth and women seeking to engage meaningfully in democratic processes.

At the event, a panel discussion session focused on issues such as inclusive civic participation, electoral transparency, information-based voter engagement, women voters’ safety and institutional accountability. 

Dr Nahreen Islam Khan, a member of the Election Observation Committee of BNP, highlighted the need to counter misinformation, arguing that preventing false and misleading content was essential to maintaining public trust in democratic processes. She said political parties had a responsibility to promote accurate information and support evidence-based participation by young voters.

Dr Ferdous Ara Khanam, secretary of Sommilito Nari Proyash and a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami Women’s Wing, drew attention to concerns about women’s safety, noting that freedom of movement remained a major challenge for women seeking to exercise their voting rights. She called for coordinated efforts by families, communities and institutions to ensure women could reach polling centres safely.

Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, discussed the importance of transparency and accountability, saying that the empowerment of youth and women was meaningful only when they could safely express opinions, access information and take part in decision-making.

Recommendations from the event are expected to be incorporated into upcoming civic and voter education programmes under the project, as per JAAGO.