NSU hosts dialogue on Electoral System of BD

City Desk :

A dialogue titled “The Quest for a Fair and Representative Electoral System for Bangladesh” was held on Saturday, at the auditorium of North South University (NSU), jointly organised by the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) of North South University and the Private University Teachers Association of Bangladesh (PUTAB).

This timely dialogue is being organised against the backdrop of the historic July Revolution. The seminar seeks to explore necessary reforms to build a democratic, inclusive, and representative electoral system for a new Bangladesh, says a press release.

Professor Dr AKM Waresul Karim, Dean, School of Business and Economics, NSU, delivered the keynote presentation. He proposed a Weighted Mixed Member Proportional Representation system, where all 300 seats would continue to be filled through direct election, but an additional “winner’s premium” would be applied based on the proportion of votes earned. This system, he argued, would preserve individual accountability while ensuring proportional fairness.

Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Head of Election System Reform Commission, served as chief guest. He emphasised the importance of youth in political reform and challenged the assumption that age necessarily brings wisdom. Citing global examples, he noted that PR systems may increase representation but could also risk instability without institutional maturity, drawing comparisons with Nepal’s frequent leadership changes.