Desk Report:
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has termed PR as ‘permanent restlessness’. He said that if elections are held under PR (Proportional Representation) system, the country’s political stability will be disrupted. After the introduction of PR in different countries of the world, it has been seen that it has taken a long time to form a government. In some places, the government was formed after a year or a year and a half. Again, after the formation of the government, it was not sustainable. The government collapsed within a few months or a year.
He said these things at a seminar at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium on Thursday. The seminar was organized to mark the 15th anniversary of the ‘Bangladesh Nationalist British Law Students Alliance’.
Salahuddin said that the main purpose of introducing the PR system in Bangladesh is not to increase the number of parliamentary seats; it is to create frequent political unrest. Those forces who want the country to remain in uncertainty all the time will benefit from this. The nation cannot be put into crisis by accepting the illegal and unconstitutional demands of any political party. Accepting any demand outside the constitution will cause serious harm to the stability of the country.
Salahuddin also alleged that the survey conducted on PR is ‘spreading confusion’.
A member of the BNP standing committee said that one survey showed that 56 percent of people do not understand PR. Another survey claimed that 70 percent of people want PR. This is tantamount to misleading the nation. If the people cannot know in advance which candidate will be elected with their votes, then where is the direct democratic participation of the people? This will weaken the accountability of the elected representatives.
The BNP leader also commented that any reform that goes beyond the constitution and the rule of law will not be good for the country.
Salahuddin Ahmed said, ‘We want to remain in constitutional continuity. The nation cannot be put into crisis by accepting the illegal and unconstitutional demands of any political party.’
BNP International Affairs Secretary Nasir Uddin Ahmed Asim, lawyers Ruhul Quddus Kajal and Ragib Rouf Chowdhury also spoke at the seminar.
