Nation must move away from PR system: Fakhrul
Staff Reporter :
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday criticized proposals for adopting a Proportional Representation (PR) system in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections, calling the idea incompatible with the country’s political culture and confusing to the general public.
“We need to move away from the PR mindset. Our people don’t understand it,” Fakhrul said while speaking at a memorial event for former Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal president Shafiul Bari Babu at the National Press Club.
His remarks come amid growing debate around electoral reforms, including the possibility of a bicameral legislature and a PR-based voting system-ideas recently promoted by Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Consensus Commission (NCC), and several Islamic parties.
“Some parties are obsessed with the PR system and have even said they won’t participate in the election unless it is adopted,” Fakhrul noted, adding that the BNP is not resistant to reforms but believes such changes must be relevant and practical.
He acknowledged that all major political actors had recently agreed on 12 core reform issues and expressed gratitude to NCC Vice Chairman Ali Riaz for facilitating the consensus.
“We are not afraid of reforms. The idea of reform started with us,” Fakhrul asserted, rejecting accusations that the BNP is obstructing structural change. He also referenced ongoing discussions involving BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and NCC Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, urging authorities to complete the reform process without delay and “return voting rights to the people.”
Fakhrul renewed calls for the announcement of a national charter and condemned ongoing political repression. He claimed nearly 1,700 BNP leaders and activists have been forcibly disappeared, while thousands more have been killed or imprisoned.
“What is the value of the lives lost in July? Nearly 2,000 people died. What is the price of their sacrifice?” he asked.
The memorial event, organized by the Shafiul Bari Babu Smriti Sangsad, was chaired by BNP Joint Secretary General Habib-Un-Nabi Khan Sohail. Other speakers included BNP Vice Chairman Asaduzzaman Ripon, chairperson’s adviser Amanullah Aman, and former student leader Fazlul Haque Milon.