Electoral Participation of Indigenous People in Bangladesh A Case Study on the Garo Community

Abstract

Bangladesh is a country of diverse culture of different people. The Bengali are the
majority, and there are minorities of ethics, the indigenous people of Bangladesh. The Population
Census Report of Bangladesh (2001) states that the total number of indigenous people is 1.2
million, comprising of 27 district ethnic groups, which constitutes 1.13 percent of the country’s
total population. Among them the Garo is one of the largest indigenous communities of
Bangladesh. Their participation in politics is important for improving the democratization process
and people’s empowerment. This study aims and identifies the level of electoral participation of
Garo people in the 9th parliamentary election in Bangladesh. It is observed from the study that
almost all the respondents of the community cast the vote in different elections regularly. They
are politically conscious and responsive to their voting rights which are similar to that majority
Bengali people. It is also found that Garo people’sparticipation in electoral meetings, processions,
and campaigning are lower than voting. Garo people,who are young at age and have ahigher level
of education, are more active in electoral participation than those of old aged and lower level of
educational status. The study finally concludes that the Garo people consciously participated in
the 9th parliamentary election and their participation level was satisfactory.