Dhaka, October 13 (V7N) — BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that introducing a proportional representation (PR) system in elections would diminish the people’s power to directly elect their representatives.

He made the remarks during a meeting with leaders of the Bangladesh Christian Forum at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Monday (October 13).

Mirza Fakhrul said that the sudden emergence of demands and movements in favor of the PR system has caused confusion among those who want quick national elections. “The issue should be left to the next parliament. It will decide the method of the next election. If PR is implemented now, the people will not understand what it really is,” he said.

The BNP Secretary General further noted that representatives from all communities would be included in the proposed upper house of parliament envisioned by the BNP. He also emphasized that the party is prioritizing the solution to the crisis of 40 million unemployed people, pledging to resolve the issue within one and a half years if the BNP assumes power.

Mirza Fakhrul reaffirmed that in the upcoming national election, the people will once again prove Bangladesh to be a truly non-communal nation, stressing that the BNP is committed to establishing a free and fair electoral system, despite various attempts to obstruct it.

Referring to the party’s proposed bicameral parliamentary structure, he added, “BNP has talked about forming an upper house — this is a new experience. But introducing PR in the lower house is unrealistic.”

END/SMA/AJ