Tuesday, 14 October, 2025
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday called for the question of adopting a proportional representation (PR) electoral system to be left to the next parliament, warning that rushing the change could undermine the principle of direct voter representation.
Fakhrul made the remarks after meeting leaders of a Christian forum at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, stressing that voters in the upcoming election will once again affirm that Bangladesh is genuinely non-communal.
“Efforts are underway to ensure a free and fair poll,” he said, noting, however, that “various attempts” to disrupt the process were already visible.
Fakhrul argued that suddenly elevating PR as a rallying demand lacks clarity and urged that the issue be deferred to the next legislature, which should determine the method for future elections.
“We have always demanded a free, fair, and acceptable election,” he said. “Introducing PR now, a system unfamiliar to the general public, could confuse voters. People vote for individuals, not just parties — and that is the essence of direct representation.”
The BNP leader also voiced concern over emerging trends in national politics.
“The liberation war of 1971 was fought to establish a distinct national identity. Today, efforts are underway to erase that identity and promote a different ideological thinking. This is not a good sign for Bangladesh,” Fakhrul observed.
He reiterated BNP’s commitment to secularism and Bangladeshi nationalism, stressing that the party seeks to nurture and strengthen the country’s non-communal ideals.
On the PR system proposed by the reform commission, Fakhrul warned that implementing it now could undermine electoral transparency and voter choice.
“The PR system reduces the ability of voters to choose individual candidates, shifting power to party lists rather than the people themselves. For citizens eager to see a democratic government and a swift election, this is a real concern,” he said.
Fakhrul’s statement comes amid growing debate over electoral reforms, highlighting the BNP’s insistence on direct, participatory democracy as the country heads toward its next national election.
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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday called for the question of adopting a proportional representation (PR) electoral system to be left to the next parliament, warning that rushing the change could undermine the principle of direct voter representation.
Fakhrul made the remarks after meeting leaders of a Christian forum at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, stressing that voters in the upcoming election will once again affirm that Bangladesh is genuinely non-communal.
“Efforts are underway to ensure a free and fair poll,” he said, noting, however, that “various attempts” to disrupt the process were already visible.
Fakhrul argued that suddenly elevating PR as a rallying demand lacks clarity and urged that the issue be deferred to the next legislature, which should determine the method for future elections.
“We have always demanded a free, fair, and acceptable election,” he said. “Introducing PR now, a system unfamiliar to the general public, could confuse voters. People vote for individuals, not just parties — and that is the essence of direct representation.”
The BNP leader also voiced concern over emerging trends in national politics.
“The liberation war of 1971 was fought to establish a distinct national identity. Today, efforts are underway to erase that identity and promote a different ideological thinking. This is not a good sign for Bangladesh,” Fakhrul observed.
He reiterated BNP’s commitment to secularism and Bangladeshi nationalism, stressing that the party seeks to nurture and strengthen the country’s non-communal ideals.
On the PR system proposed by the reform commission, Fakhrul warned that implementing it now could undermine electoral transparency and voter choice.
“The PR system reduces the ability of voters to choose individual candidates, shifting power to party lists rather than the people themselves. For citizens eager to see a democratic government and a swift election, this is a real concern,” he said.
Fakhrul’s statement comes amid growing debate over electoral reforms, highlighting the BNP’s insistence on direct, participatory democracy as the country heads toward its next national election.
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