Expressing concern over the current political tumult, speakers at a seminar said on Wednesday that voters, especially young, women and minority voters, are still in confusion over whether they would be able to exercise their franchise.
Pointing to the country's history of elections, they also said whenever election violence takes place, it primarily leads to thin presence of women and minority voters in the polling centres.
So, the Election Commission (EC) should play a more responsible role in ensuring an atmosphere conducive to credible elections, as people get a chance once in five years to exercise their democratic right, they added.
The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) organised the seminar titled 'Participation and Inclusion: Why young, women and minority should Vote' at the BIISS Auditorium in the city.
Political scientist Prof Dr Rounaq Jahan addressed the programme as the guest of honour while Bangladesh Youth Leadership Centre (BYLC) president Ejaj Ahmad presented a keynote paper at the event moderated by CGS executive director Zillur Rahman.
Terming the upcoming general election a challenging one, CEO of Brotee Sharmeen Murshid said, "We have been working as election observers for 25 years, but never seen such a chaotic electoral situation like this before."
She said, "Some candidates have been carrying out massive showdown which have created a panicky situation ahead of the elections, forcing many people to stay out of their homes for security reasons."
The EC should come up with a clear statement right at this moment so that the voters, especially women and minority groups, can feel a sense of security and cast their votes without fear, she added.
She also said minority groups are attacked not because of their ethnic or religious identity, but because of the prevailing culture of vote politics.
Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University said not only young, women and minority voters, all other voters are also in a dilemma whether they would be able to cast their votes peacefully.
Referring to the ongoing attacks on opposition candidates and their supporters, he said, "Earlier it was assumed that the election environment might get better following the deployment of army, but it hasn't."
Talking about army's role in the election, former election commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said the army does what they are instructed to do, not less or more.
When army is deployed to help the civil power, they follow the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and work under the command of a magistrate, he said.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sara Hossain said the youths of the country are worried about whether they can cast their votes or not.
Apart from propaganda, violations of laws are taking place in the country, she said, adding that opposition candidates and supporters have been attacked directly in the run-up to the elections.
She also condemned the EC's directive to restrict movement of motor vehicles on the voting day, saying that how the elderly people or persons with disabilities will go to polling stations.
Citing a research conducted by Prof Abul Barkat, BYLC president Ejaj Ahmad said around 11.30 million Hindus left the country due to religious persecution and discrimination in between 1964 and 2013.
Chaired by CGS chairman Prof Dr M Ataur Rahman, the seminar was also addressed by Awami League advisory committee member Yusuf Hossain Humayun, former information commissioner Dr Sadeka Halim, former BTRC chairman Sunil Kanti Bose, Jatiya Oikya Front leader Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, Supreme Court lawyer barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, Bangladesher Samyabadi Dal (Marxist-Leninist) general secretary Dilip Barua, and Bangladesh Adivasi Forum general secretary Sanjeeb Drong.
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