Sydney, Australia | January 23, 2026
Ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national parliamentary election, Bangladeshi expatriates in Sydney have called for a neutral, free, and credible election, stressing that it is the need of the hour to restore public trust and strengthen democracy.
An important discussion meeting titled “Election Dialogue” was held on Thursday evening (January 23) at a function centre in Lakemba, Sydney. The program was organised by Probashi Bhavna, a social and civic initiative, with the aim of highlighting the views, expectations, and responsibilities of expatriate Bangladeshis regarding the national election.
The event was coordinated by Sohel Mahmud. Speakers from various segments of the expatriate community shared their perspectives on democracy, voting rights, and the credibility of the electoral process in Bangladesh.
Prominent speakers included Dr. Humayun Chowdhury Rana, Dr. Nargis Banu, Faruk Khan, Zakir Alam Lenin, Mosleh Uddin Hawladar Arif, Mohammad Abdul Matin, Engineer Abdus Shukur Khan, Engineer Mahiur Rahman Munna, Engineer Shajedur Rahman Pradhan, Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, and Abu Sayeed.
The speakers unanimously stated that institutionalising democracy in Bangladesh requires a free, fair, and inclusive election under a neutral caretaker government. Referring to past experiences, they emphasised the importance of ensuring the independence of the Election Commission, neutrality of the administration, and the professional and impartial role of law enforcement agencies.
Participants noted that more than 13 million Bangladeshi expatriates currently live across different countries worldwide and contribute over USD 25 billion in remittances annually, playing a crucial role in Bangladesh’s economy. Despite this contribution, expatriates’ opinions and expectations regarding one of the most fundamental democratic processes—the national election—have long been ignored.
Speakers further pointed out that a credible election is not merely about forming a government; it is directly linked to political stability, international credibility, and sustainable economic development. They expressed the desire to see an election in Bangladesh where voters can exercise their franchise freely, without fear or intimidation, and where the results are accepted without controversy.
In the concluding session, expatriates expressed collective hope that all political stakeholders would act responsibly to ensure the voting rights of the people and that Bangladesh would move towards a peaceful, transparent, and widely acceptable national election.
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