Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called for a shift to the Proportional Representation (PR) system in the country’s electoral process, arguing that such a change would curb the influence of black money and eliminate nomination trading.
Following a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad briefed the media on the party’s proposals. He emphasized that a proportional system would ensure fairer representation and reduce electoral corruption.
“In many countries, elections are held under the proportional representation model. We are proposing the same for Bangladesh. Under our proposal, any political party receiving at least 1% of the national vote should be allocated seats accordingly,” Azad said.
Jamaat-e-Islami also suggested that local government elections be held prior to the national elections, especially under a non-partisan government, to ensure that “true representatives of the people” are elected.
Additionally, the party called for safeguarding the voting rights of expatriate Bangladeshis, stressing the need for inclusive participation in the democratic process.
Regarding the party’s status, Azad commented that the restoration of Jamaat’s registration and electoral symbol (the scales) has upheld justice, and the party now wishes to work within the existing electoral framework without demanding reformation or restructuring of the Election Commission.
The Jamaat delegation, led by Azad, included Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zobayer and Central Executive Committee Member Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarkar. The meeting lasted over an hour and was also attended by Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar and senior EC officials.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s call for proportional representation comes amid broader debates on electoral reform and inclusivity in Bangladesh’s democratic process.
