Two major political parties — BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami — took opposing positions on the proportional representation (PR) system at a discussion in Dhaka yesterday.
Several smaller parties, however, favoured keeping the existing electoral model, saying people have not lost confidence in it, while some suggested introducing the PR system in an “Upper House” to ensure checks and balances.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. Leaders of different political parties and experts made the observations at a seminar titled “Election 2026: A Critical Look at Proportional Representation”, organised by Cosmos Foundation at the city’s Cosmos Centre.
BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury questioned the idea of holding a referendum on introducing the PR system.
“Why should we go for a referendum on PR? Who has given us that responsibility? The people didn’t give us this responsibility,” he said, adding that discussions can instead take place inside and outside parliament on reform issues like PR.
Another standing committee member of BNP Abdul Moyeen Khan also opposed the system, saying it would only strengthen political parties while weakening the link between people and their elected representatives.
“People would vote for a party, not an individual, and the party would then decide who becomes a member of parliament. This goes against our democratic spirit, where people elect their own representatives,” he said.
In contrast, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad called for introducing PR to avoid electoral irregularities and ensure that “every vote counts.”
“The first and foremost benefit of PR is that every voter can recognise that they are represented in parliament,” he said.
Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna dismissed the debate, saying, “There is nothing to discuss about PR. The people of the country do not understand it, and they have no interest in it.”
Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque alleged that a “motivated campaign” was being carried out to claim that 78 percent of people support PR.
Former Election Commission Secretary SM Jakoria warned that a party winning the most votes under PR might still be unable to form the government, creating a “mismatch between expectations and outcomes.”
AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju said, “If voting takes place at night, there will be no difference between an election under the PR system and the traditional first-past-the-post system.”
Presenting the keynote paper, Prof Mamun Al Mostofa of Dhaka University’s Political Science Department said forming an Upper House based on PR alone would not ensure accountability or strengthen democracy.
Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan said discussions would continue to reach a consensus on the electoral system, while Ganosanghati Andolon’s Executive Coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel said PR could only be considered if people lose faith in the current one.