Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed skepticism towards political parties advocating for a national election under the proportional representation (PR) system, stating that they lack a proper understanding of it. "Our common people do not understand what the proportional representation is," Fakhrul remarked, emphasizing that voters are familiar with party-nominated candidates and their symbols, such as the sheaf of paddy or the scale, rather than the intricacies of the PR system.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Fakhrul made these comments while addressing a discussion titled "Expectations and Achievements on the Occasion of the Fall of Fascist Murderer Hasina and the Anniversary of the July-24 Revolution," organized by Zia Parishad at the Jatiya Press Club. Fakhrul described the nation as being in a transitional period, with hopes of a democratic transition on the horizon. He criticized the Awami League's governance, claiming it has damaged various sectors such as the judiciary, law, and health, while also undermining pro-democratic political structures through prolonged rule.
Fakhrul highlighted the BNP's reform initiatives, referencing BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's 'Vision 2030' and acting chairman Tarique Rahman's 3-point charter for state reform, introduced in 2022. He believes these plans could bring significant political and economic change to Bangladesh, although he acknowledged that reforms are a gradual process. He addressed the need for structural changes to prevent issues like police bribery, describing bureaucracy as a major developmental obstacle.
The BNP Secretary General stressed the importance of elections for establishing representative governance, questioning how people's rule could be established without elected officials. He urged party members to embody honesty, following the ideology of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, and encouraged Zia Parishad leaders to promote the life and work of the late leader to the public.
The meeting, presided over by Zia Parishad Chairman Vice Chairman Professor Shafiqul Islam, in the absence of Chairman Professor Abdul Quddus due to illness, featured speeches by various Zia Parishad leaders, including Professor Emtaz Hossain and Professor Mujibur Rahman Howlader, and was moderated by Prof Abul Kalam Azad.