Staff Reporter:
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday criticized the proposed Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system, calling it an “imposed process” that the people of the country will not accept.
Addressing a commemorative discussion on the second death anniversary of Democratic League (DL) General Secretary Saifuddin Ahmed Moni, Fakhrul expressed concerns over the sudden introduction of the PR system. The countrymen have no familiarity with the system and it would be rejected if imposed, he added.
“This new concept has been brought forward abruptly and the people of the country have no idea about it. The PR system will not be accepted by the people of this country,” he said, adding, “The people will not accept anything that is imposed upon them.”
Fakhrul said some political parties are trying to delay the upcoming national elections by advocating for the PR system. He said that the aim of pushing the PR system was to prolong the process of returning power to the people.
Referring to the national election scheduled for February, Fakhrul reiterated BNP’s stance. “We want the implementation of the interim government’s commitment to hold the national election in February. The people want to see an election and return to a democratic system through it,” he said.
Fakhrul also highlighted the challenges posed by the current government. He claimed that the ruling Awami League had destroyed democratic institutions, the economy and various other state structures over the last 15 years.
“The Awami fascists have ruined counry’s democracy, economy and all institutions. After defeating this fascist government through the July Uprising, we now have an opportunity to rebuild the state and re-store democracy,” he stated.
Fakhrul reaffirmed BNP’s commitment to political reforms, citing the party’s Vision-2030 reform pro-gram announced in 2016. He said that many of the reforms currently being discussed by the Reform Commission were part of BNP’s original 31-point demand.
“A lot of false propaganda has been spread against us regarding these reforms,” he observed.
About the ongoing political developments, Fakhrul said the “July Charter” will be signed on October 17. “We must move forward with the issues agreed upon by the Reform Commission. For the issues where agreement could not be reached, political parties will present them to the public in the form of a mani-festo, which will be implemented through the people’s mandate,” he said.
Fakhrul, however, expressed confidence that the people of Bangladesh would choose the right leader-ship.
Chairman of the National People’s Party (NPP) Dr. Fariduzzaman Forhad presided over the event, while NPP Secretary General Mustafizur Rahman Mostofa moderated it held at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city.
