Survey Questionnaire

Survey Questionnaire

Research Name: The Barriers and Opportunities for Minority Political Participation in Bangladesh

The main objective of this study, conducted by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), is to review in detail the experiences of Bangladesh’s minority populations in political and electoral processes, the existing barriers, and their expectations regarding this process.

• Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary, and it will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
• During the survey, you may skip answering any question or have the full right to withdraw your participation at any time without providing a reason.
• All information provided by you and your personal identity will be kept strictly confidential.
• The collected data will be used solely for this research by CGS, which will play a significant role in increasing the political participation of minority populations and formulating effective policy recommendations.

Date: __________________

Consent

I certify that I have read and understood the information above with attention. I am participating in this survey voluntarily and can withdraw my participation at any time without citing any reason.

• I consent to participate in this survey
• I do not consent to participate in this survey

Personal Information

Name: __________________

Age: __________________

Gender

• Male
• Female
• Others

Division

• Barishal
• Chattogram
• Dhaka
• Khulna
• Mymensingh
• Rajshahi
• Rangpur
• Sylhet

District: __________________

Community/Ethnicity

• Hill Indigenous
• Plains Indigenous
• Tea-garden worker
• Panjum worker
• Dalit
• Scheduled Caste
• Others

Religion

• Hindu
• Buddhist
• Christian
• Others

Educational Qualification

• Primary
• Secondary
• Higher Secondary
• Graduate/Postgraduate
• Did not receive formal education

Did you drop out of the formal education system?

• I dropped out of formal education due to poverty
• I did not drop out at any stage of my formal education life
• I could not finish formal education due to family reasons
• I dropped out of the formal education system previously; later, I returned to formal education

Profession: (Select one)

• Sharecropper (Landless farmer)
• Farmer
• Laborer
• Health Worker/Nurse/Aya/Midwife
• Hawker
• Small Businessman/Entrepreneur
• Handicraft Worker
• House Help
• Cleaner
• Rickshaw Puller/Van Puller/Driver
• Government Employee
• Private Employee/NGO Worker
• Housewife
• Student
• Retired
• Teacher
• Journalist
• Doctor
• Others

Election & Political Participation

Have you ever voted in a national or local election?

• Yes
• No

If you have voted, how many times have you voted in the National Parliament election?

• 1 time
• 2-3 times
• More than 3 times

If you have voted, how many times have you voted in the Local Government election?

• 1 time
• 2-3 times
• More than 3 times

Did you face any problems while becoming a voter?

• Yes
• No

If yes, what kind of problems occurred? (You can select one or more)

• Administrative complexity
• Due to long distance and transportation inconvenience
• Language problems
• Facing demands for bribes or other unethical claims
• Fear or apprehension regarding security
• Political pressure
• Family or social pressure

How much do you participate in political discussions or gatherings in your area?

• Active Speaker: I initiate political discussions myself and argue/debate with others
• Active Listener: I like to listen to discussions and give my opinion if necessary
• Cautious Participant: I only talk about politics with trusted or close people
• Passive: I listen to discussions but refrain from expressing my own opinion
• Isolated: I avoid these discussions

How interested are you in participating or voting in the upcoming national election?

• Extremely Interested: (I will definitely vote)
• Somewhat Interested: (I will vote if the situation is favorable)
• Have not decided yet: (I will decide observing the situation)
• Unwilling: (I do not feel the need to vote)
• Suffering from insecurity: (I do not want to vote due to fear or apprehension)

If the answer is negative, what are the probable reasons? (You can select one or more)

• I apprehend fighting or attacks on election day or afterward
• My supported or favorite political party is not participating in the election
• I feel that voting will not impact the result (The result is predetermined)
• I do not like any of the contesting candidates or do not consider them qualified for the area
• Despair due to vote-buying or unethical activities
• Past representatives did not keep their words, so I have no interest in voting anew

Political Awareness

How is your awareness regarding Bangladesh’s politics and political parties?

• Very Aware: I keep regular track of political news and know in detail about the parties’ activities
• Moderately Aware: I know about important political events, but do not analyze deeply
• Slightly Aware: Occasionally get news or know what I see on social media
• Not Aware: I do not keep track of politics or have no interest in this subject

From which medium do you collect political news? (You can select one or more)

• From social media (Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, etc.)
• From daily newspapers
• From television or radio news
• Social gatherings (Tea stalls, neighborhood, clubs, etc.)
• Others

Are you aware of the names of all candidates in your area and about them for the upcoming national election?

• Yes, I know all candidates, and I have an idea about all political ideologies
• I do not know all candidates, but I have an idea about all political ideologies
• No, I do not have an idea about all candidates and the ideologies of political parties

Which factors regarding the candidate do you consider while voting? (You can select one or more)

• How realistic the candidate’s election manifesto or promises are
• The candidate’s financial influence or donations
• The candidate’s familiarity (Relative or known in society)
• The candidate’s political party and ideology
• The candidate’s formal education and knowledge
• Support from local leaders or influential people
• The candidate’s role or plans in developing roads, schools, hospitals, etc.
• The candidate’s ethics and honesty
• Their past experience in politics or public service
• Prioritizing party ideology and symbol over the individual candidate
• Prioritizing the candidate’s personal qualification, honesty, and personality instead of the party’s ideology or symbol
• How accessible and sincere he/she is to the common people
• Accused of corruption or criminal activities
• Which political party the candidate belongs to and if that party’s policy matches your beliefs
• Whether he/she has any specific plan for eliminating unemployment in the area

Are you aware of your rights (in voting) as a voter?

• Yes, I am aware
• No, I am not aware

Are you aware of election irregularities (unethical money transactions, forcibly stopping from voting, capturing polling centers, etc.)?

• Yes, I am aware
• No, I am not aware

Are you aware of where/to whom to complain if any irregularity or violence occurs during the election?

• Yes, I am aware
• No, I am not aware

If any irregularity occurs during the election, what will be your immediate reaction? (You can select one or more)

• Will inform the local administration
• Will inform the relevant officer of the polling center
• Will inform the security forces
• Will inform local leaders
• Will publish on social media (Facebook, TikTok, YouTube)
• Will inform media workers
• Will protest
• Will observe silence

If you observe silence, what are the main reasons behind it? (You can select one or more)

• Fear of physical or mental attacks on self or family if protested
• Fear of falling under the wrath of the ruling or influential quarters
• Fear of legal complications or police harassment if involved in any trouble
• The idea that no remedy or justice will be received even if a complaint is made
• Lack of trust in the neutrality of the Election Commission or administration
• Maintaining personal peace and not wanting to get involved in any kind of dispute or argument
• Fear of ruining relationships with neighbors or influential groups while living in the area
• Keeping oneself away from any political matter considering politics a ‘dirty place’
• Not having a correct idea about where or to whom to complain if irregularities are seen

Political Representation

Were the previously elected public representatives aware of and sincere about your community’s problems?

• Fully aware and extremely sincere: He knew our problems and regularly came to the area to try to solve them
• Were aware but lacked sincerity: He knew the problems but did not take much initiative to solve them
• Partially aware: He only knew about some general problems but did not work in depth
• Were not aware at all: He did not have much of an idea about the problems of our area or community
• Were disconnected: We had no communication with him after being elected

Did the public representatives of your area give importance to the main problems of your area in their election campaigns?

• Fully gave importance: The main problems of our area were the main subject of their campaign
• Partially gave importance: Even if they talked about some big problems, they avoided many important small problems
• Nominally gave importance: Discussed main problems only superficially, showed no specific plan
• Did not give importance at all: They spoke more about political animosity or personal achievements than public importance issues

Do you think there are an adequate number of candidates from minority communities in this national election?

• Yes, adequate: The number of candidates is sufficient in proportion to the population of the minority community
• No, inadequate: Despite having qualified candidates, adequate nominations were not given by the main parties
• Very negligible: The number of candidates is so low that it does not ensure true representation
• Less than previous times: Compared to previous elections, the number of minority candidates has decreased this time

Discrimination & Justice

Have you or your family ever faced any kind of discrimination while participating in political or electoral processes? (You can select one or more)

• No, excellent harmony and equal rights exist in our area
• No, we feel safe in the neutrality of the administration
• Yes, faced obstacles in exercising voting rights or going to the polling center
• Yes, felt discrimination in getting nominations as a candidate
• Yes, our demands are always politically ignored
• No comments

In your experience, what was the nature of that discrimination? (You can select one or more)

• Insult/Abuse
• Threats or intimidation
• Physical attack
• Police harassment/False cases
• Had to leave the area
• House was attacked
• Social deprivation (Community, Gender, Age, etc.)
• Attacks on movable/immovable property

How safe do you feel participating in the election?

• Completely Safe: I can go to the polling center without any fear
• Somewhat Apprehensive: I feel safe if the environment is good, but I remain apprehensive
• Unsafe: I feel risk due to past experiences or surrounding circumstances
• Absolutely Unsafe: I refrain from participating in the election due to a lack of security

Have you ever complained about political harassment or threats?

• Yes, informed relevant authorities: I made a written or verbal complaint to the Election Commission or local administration
• Yes, informed law enforcement agencies: I tried to file a GD/Case with the police or police station
• Yes, informed socially or globally: I informed local dignitaries or Panchayat/Councilor about the matter
• Yes, published in media or online: I highlighted the matter in news media or social media
• No, avoided the incident by observing silence
• No, I have never fallen victim to such a situation

If you did not complain after being a victim of or witnessing political violence in the past, what are the probable reasons? (You can select one or more)

• Lack of security: There was a fear of greater physical or mental harm later if a complaint was made
• Lack of trust in the legal system: Thought no effective measure would be taken even if a complaint was made
• Social and political influence: Complaining seemed futile as the opponent was politically very influential
• Fear of maintaining privacy: Did not complain for fear of identity being revealed or social loss of honor
• Avoiding procrastination or hassle: Avoided the matter to avoid the hassle or harassment of the legal process
• Lack of cooperation: There was no guarantee of receiving necessary support from family, society, or law enforcement agencies

Have you been a victim of harassment again after complaining about political violence/harassment/threats? (You can select one or more)

• Yes, harassment increased further after complaining
• Yes, pressure was put on me to withdraw the complaint
• Yes, physical or mental molestation: I was physically attacked or socially humiliated
• Yes, legal harassment: False counter-cases or police harassment were done against me
• Yes, economic or professional damage: Attempts were made to harm my business, job, or workplace
• No, authorities gave protection: Administration or law enforcement agencies gave me security after complaining
• No, there was no adverse reaction: The situation improved after complaining, and no new problems occurred
• The complaint was not even accepted: Authorities refused to accept the complaint due to fear or pressure
• I am still in apprehension: Even if nothing happened directly, I always remain terrified of re-harassment

Do you think you have any impediments or barriers in exercising political rights or participation?

• Yes, we directly face insecurity and threats
• Yes, we face unwritten barriers in coming to political leadership
• No, there are no barriers to our participation, and we receive equal rights
• No direct barriers, but the social environment is not conducive to political practice
• I do not want to make any comment on this subject

If there are any impediments or barriers, what are the main barriers to your community’s political participation? (You can select one or more)

• Lack of personal security or fear of violence
• Lack of neutrality of administration or law enforcement agencies
• Excess of election expenses or economic crisis
• Pressure from local influential quarters or use of muscle power
• Discrimination due to social or communal outlook
• Shortage of correct information about political rights or electoral processes
• Being stopped from going to polling centers or not being able to vote for the candidate of one’s choice

Expectations

What are the main demands or expectations from your community to ensure an inclusive election?

Instruction: Write 1 in the box next to the demand which is most important to you among the 5 demands below. Write 2 where it is the second most important—thus determine Priority by giving numbers from 1 to 5 according to your preference.