BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said the people of the country will not accept the proportional representation (PR) voting system, as some parties are pushing for it to delay the election and hinder the restoration of democratic order, reports UNB.
Speaking at a memorial discussion, he also said people want to see the national election held by February 2026, as pledged by head of the interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus.
"Some political parties are suddenly campaigning for the PR system about which the people of Bangladesh have no idea. Although the Reform Commission itself did not bring up this issue, a few political parties are now talking about it and even carrying out movements in its favour," the BNP leader said.
Fakhrul said the aim behind the demand for PR is clear to delay the election and to obstruct the process of returning power to the people.
"The people of this country will not accept the PR system. From our party's side, we have clearly stated this before, and I say again: the people will not accept this system. Nothing that is imposed on them will be accepted by the people of Bangladesh," he said.
The BNP leader said they are committed to seeing the election take place by February 2026, as promised by Professor Yunus. "The people also want that election and wish to return to a democratic system through it. They want their hopes and aspirations to be fulfilled through democracy."
The National People's Party (NPP) organised the programme at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) in memory of Democratic League general secretary Saifuddin Ahmed Moni, who died on October 12, 2023.
Fakhrul said it has been about 14 months since the formation of the interim government, and people do not expect that Bangladesh can be transformed overnight like Aladdin's magic lamp. "But what they do want is to see the beginning of the right process - a process through which we will see the rise of a new Bangladesh."
The BNP leader said any party can win the next national election depending on the people's will. "But the people will choose that party which has been tested in the past - the one that has been in government, worked for the nation, shown people the light of hope, and led them from darkness to light."
