Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, July 19, 2026 (BSS) - Integrated initiatives of government and non-government institutions, law enforcement agencies, lawyers and civil society can be the crucial means of ensuring the human rights of marginalized people.

Everyone must work together to prevent violence and incidents of human rights violations and to ensure the constitutional rights of marginalized communities.

Legal experts, law-enforcing agency officials and community leaders made the observation while addressing a coordination meeting with district platform members here this afternoon.

Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) organized the meeting at Hotel Warisan with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and under the 'Songhati' project.

The meeting was presided over by Senior Member of BLAST's Board of Directors, Adv. Jamshed Ali, while General Secretary of Rajshahi Advocate Bar Association, Adv. Parvez Toufiq Zahedi welcomed the participants. BLAST Rajshahi Coordinator Samina Begum conducted the event. 

Adv. Jamshed Ali said that to protect human rights, not only legal aid, but also raising social awareness and effective coordination among all relevant institutions are equally necessary.

Additional Superintendent of Police Sabina Yasmin said that ensuring the security of marginalized communities is one of the primary responsibilities of law enforcement agencies. 

Police will remain alert to prevent any attempt of communal provocation or violence, and in this regard cooperation from civil society is important.
 
RMP Assistant Commissioner Arzina Khatun, District Legal Aid Officer Shariful Islam Khan, and President of Puja Udjapan Parishad Metropolitan, Adv. Sarat Chandra Sarker also spoke.

They emphasized establishing the rule of law, building a non-discriminatory society, and ensuring prompt legal assistance for affected people.
 
The keynote paper was presented by BLAST Senior Outreach Officer and Team Leader of the 'Songhati' project, Durdana Farid.
 
She said that the district platform will work as a 'Rapid Response Forum'. This platform will play an active role in quickly collecting information about potential communal tensions or risks of attacks, coordinating with relevant authorities, and taking necessary measures.

She also said that one of the main objectives of the district platform is to identify local level violence, displacement of minority communities, and gaps in legal and social services, and take effective steps.

At the meeting, discussions were held on the security situation, assessment of previous incidents of human rights violations, limitations of legal aid and social services, and identification of new risk areas.
 
Participants expressed hope that such integrated initiatives will play an effective role in ensuring the security of marginalized and minority communities as well as in building an inclusive, non-discriminatory and human rights based society.

President of Jatiya Mahila Ainjibi Samity Dil Setara Begum Chuni, President of Adibashi Mukti Morcha Rajshahi Bhadu Baske, President of Adibashi Jubo Parishad Upen Rabi Das, and President of Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council Metropolitan Raj Kumar Sarker, along with representatives of various government and non-government institutions, also spoke.