Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced plans to launch a movement demanding the introduction of a proportional representation (PR) voting system in both the upper and lower houses of the Jatiya Sangsad.
The announcement came on Sunday afternoon after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin.
Speaking to reporters, Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said: We (all) have agreed on the PR system for the upper house of Parliament. But our demand is that it must be implemented in both the upper and lower houses.
“We will wage a movement on this issue because as in the past 54 years, the electoral process has never ensured a truly fair election,” he said.
The PR system is a proportional electoral arrangement where seats are allocated based on the total number of votes each party secures nationwide.
Expressing hope that the next general election will be held in February, Taher said that Jamaat-e-Islami has always supported elections.
“We have no fundamental objection to the February date announced for the polls, as we have already stated earlier that elections could be held in either February or April.”
Citing the last three elections as examples, he said: The way the past three elections were conducted has not dispelled public concerns. That is why we have called on the government to take several steps.
Before the election, he said, Jamaat has also demanded reforms and the trial of the Awami League, as promised by the interim government.
“We told the CEC that the precondition for the election is a level playing field. He assured us that he will be as serious as possible from his side. We want to place our trust in the Chief Election Commissioner,” said the Jamaat leader.
“The people of Bangladesh no longer want to see any unfair election. If anything like that happens, they will once again take to the streets. The people of this country will not accept any election conducted under control or occupation.”
