Senior BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that any major change in Bangladesh’s electoral system, including a shift to proportional representation, must be decided by a parliament elected by the people.
Speaking on Wednesday afternoon at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Khasru addressed the matter during a coordination meeting with alliance parties involved in the joint movement. Representatives from Bangladesh Janadhikar Party, BJP, Amjanatar Dal, and Ganatantrik Bam Dal were present.
His remarks come as talk of electoral reform and a possible shift to proportional representation gains momentum.
“For any fundamental change, you need a parliament elected by public vote,” Khasru said. “You can’t just impose something like PR from outside. That decision belongs in the hands of the next parliament.”
He emphasized that BNP’s 31-point reform agenda does not mention proportional representation and dismissed it as irrelevant to current talks.
“This isn’t BAKSAL,” Khasru said, referring to the controversial one-party system of the 1970s. “Consensus doesn’t have to exist on every issue. Where we do agree, we will push for reforms. Beyond that, each party will go to the public and make their own case.”
During the meeting, BJP Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho questioned the motive behind PR discussions. He called it impractical in Bangladesh’s current political context and hinted at concerns.
“We need to look into whether this PR debate is being used to delay elections,” Partho said. “That possibility cannot be ignored.”
When asked about the upcoming “July Charter,” Partho said any such declaration would reflect the position of the issuing party only, not a joint platform.
The coordination talks among the opposition alliance continue as parties prepare for a more active phase of political engagement ahead of the next general election.
