November 28, 2025
DHAKA – As the 13th national election approaches, political leaders are once again busy flexing their muscles and making promises. Yet amidst this familiar chaos, a compelling question arises: are they genuinely concerned with listening to people and upholding democratic values? Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center’s (BYLC) Youth Matters Survey 2025 further deepens my concern and cynicism. The survey reveals that 76 percent of the 2,545 respondents think women do not feel safe in Bangladesh today, and 23.5 percent perceive a lack of communal harmony in the country.
The survey uncovered several other deeply concerning issues related to peace and justice. Before diving in, we must also consider the demographics of the survey to understand the nuances of the data. The survey was conducted among 2,545 individuals aged 18-35, comprising an almost equal ratio of men and women. More than 56 percent of respondents were from rural areas, and almost 30 percent were female homemakers.
While the data presents a paradox between communal harmony and personal safety, the underlying reasons identified are even more troubling. Of the 23.5 percent who deny the presence of harmony, 42.2 percent believe Bangladeshi society is becoming increasingly polarised. This exposes the vulnerability of the nation’s once-resilient social fabric. Polarisation, especially in a volatile social and political landscape like Bangladesh’s current environment, not only erodes trust in democratic institutions but also threatens democratic values. A 2021 Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) study suggests that the negative consequences of polarisation—from institutional inefficiency to political stalemate—further reinforce the perception that democracy is incapable of addressing the country’s most pressing challenges and may push people towards authoritarianism and populism. It also turns politics into a zero-sum game where political opponents are regarded as “others” and dehumanised based on their affiliations.
We have already witnessed the interim government conform to populist ideas repeatedly over the last 15 months. The scrapping of music and physical education teachers’ posts in primary schools and the arrest of Baul singer Abul Sarkar over allegations of hurting religious sentiments are the latest additions to a long list of decisions influenced by religious groups. Protesters who condemned the arrest and demanded bail for the singer were attacked by what some observers referred to as the “Touhidi Janata,” which is a clear sign not only of rising authoritarianism but also of an erosion of democratic values at the social level.
According to Human Rights Watch, nearly 250 people, including policemen, Awami League supporters, and individuals from minority groups, were killed in retributive violence after Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. Just a few months ago, bloody violence erupted in the Chittagong Hill Tracts among Indigenous communities and Bangalee settlers. These incidents send a clear signal to progressive groups—who have experienced harassment and are often labelled as “supporters” of the Awami League—as well as religious and ethnic minorities, that their freedoms and rights may come under threat. Therefore, the illusion of harmony suggested by the 65.3 percent is highly susceptible to the shocks of political and social unrest, especially with the national election approaching.
Now, let us take a deeper look at the survey’s findings on perceptions of women’s safety and what they reveal about our society and politics. According to the survey, more than 40 percent of respondents identified a lack of law enforcement and protection as the primary reason for insecurity. This is an alarming indictment of the current state of security and people’s mistrust of the rule of law, access to justice, and state institutions.
Herein lies a major disconnect: people’s perception of communal peace and harmony sharply contradicts their perception of gendered insecurity. A society where women live in pervasive fear cannot credibly be described as harmonious, and this is where political pledges diverge from the lived realities of women.
Recently, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir Shafiqur Rahman pledged that if elected, his party would reduce women’s working hours from eight to five per day while ensuring full eight-hour pay, and that homemakers would be honoured as ratnagarbha mothers. While framed as a gesture of respect for mothers—ignoring the other identities a woman may hold—the proposal is neither progressive nor respectful. Rather, it is a deeply patronising and politically calculated move that threatens to undermine women’s economic independence and exposes a fundamental refusal to address real issues of safety and equality. It is a deliberate diversion from women’s physical insecurity to a non-issue that would further limit their economic opportunities. Although it took a long time for domestic work to be recognised economically, honouring homemakers through such policies adds another layer of disrespect for women striving for financial independence or pursuing their dream careers.
Furthermore, beyond the flawed sentiment, the proposal is harmful even from a policy-making level. According to a report, the unemployment rate of young people aged 15-24 remains the highest in the South Asia region, standing at 42 percent for young women. Moreover, Bangladesh has the largest gender gap in youth unemployment globally. The proposal would simply make hiring women more expensive instead of implementing policies that ensure their safety and security, eradicate sexual harassment and gender-based violence, create more jobs, and ensure equal pay.
With the national election approaching, the road ahead requires actionable plans that address the issues faced daily by youth, women, and other minority and vulnerable groups, both individually and collectively. Beyond political gimmicks, we require state institutions that uphold democracy, justice, good governance, and the rule of law. Today’s youth want politics that deliver results. Now, the question is whether our politicians will hear their plea amidst all the noise of reform and electioneering, or, more importantly, whether they are willing to.
Jannatul Mawa works in online education and youth development. She can be reached at jannatulmawa811@gmail.com.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s own.