BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has said that while some may want elections for the lower house, the national parliament, to be held under the Proportional Representation (PR) system—from their political and party standpoint—that desire is understandable. However, in the context of Bangladesh's reality and based on past discussions held with the reform commission, no consensus was found on adopting the PR system for elections.
Salahuddin made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a memorial publication event on martyred President Ziaur Rahman and an archive unveiling programme organised by the Bangladesh Research Analysis and Information Network (BRAIN) at the International Mother Language Institute Auditorium.
“Besides, there is no historical precedent for proportional elections in Bangladesh. In our political culture, this is a new idea. We've seen that this system has undergone various trials in many countries around the world, but it's not suitable for our country. Even where it has been applied, it often leads to complex situations,” he said.
He explained, “Under proportional representation, voters in a parliamentary constituency wouldn’t know who their specific MP would be. And when they seek out their MP, they won’t find any designated individual to approach. Those who are advocating for proportional representation might have a motive—either to delay elections or to obstruct elections from being held in Bangladesh altogether. That could be their intention. However, the people of Bangladesh remain united.”
bd-pratidin/GR
