China has expressed interest in strengthening its partnership with a government elected through democratic means, said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference following his recent visit to Beijing, Fakhrul said the trip covered a wide range of issues, including Rohingya repatriation, the Teesta River project, and political cooperation.
“China wants to work with an elected government in Bangladesh with more depth, sincerity and mutual understanding,” he said.
He said China showed interest in helping with the voluntary return of Rohingya to Rakhine. Talks also covered the Teesta project, but without much detail.
“They are trying to convince the Myanmar government to meet this expectation soon,” Fakhrul noted.
While the press conference focused on foreign diplomacy, BNP leaders at another event in Dhaka turned their attention to domestic politics.
At a gathering hosted by the party’s Ulama Dal at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, several BNP figures voiced concern over growing calls for proportional representation (PR) in the electoral system.
One speaker claimed the push for PR masks a deeper agenda. “Those who now want elections through PR, there’s a lot of conspiracy behind that,” he said.
Some comments questioned whether the proposal was designed to serve particular individuals. “Is this some strategy to keep Yunus in power?” a party figure asked.
The discussion suggested a belief within BNP that PR could undermine the country’s democratic structure by creating division and confusion.
“If someone creates conflict within the people’s desire for democracy by pushing PR as an issue, I’d say they don’t truly believe in Bangladesh’s values,” another speaker said.
The statements reflect the party’s dual focus: fostering foreign relations while remaining skeptical of domestic reforms they see as politically charged.
