Jamaat Holds Discussion in Lakshmipur Calling for PR Elections

A discussion meeting was held in Lakshmipur with local dignitaries to press for implementation of five demands — including recognition of the legal basis of the “July sanad” and holding elections under a proportional representation (PR) system. The meeting took place on Wednesday evening (October 8) at a Chinese restaurant in the town’s Bagbari area. Representatives of several political and social organisations attended. The session was chaired by Master Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan, president of the Lakshmipur district unit of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Dr. Muhammad Rezaul Karim, Secretary of Jamaat’s Central Working Council, was the chief guest. Moderated by A. R. Hafiz Ullah, the meeting opened with a welcome address by the district Jamaat’s Naib-e Amir, Advocate Nazir Ahmad. Speakers discussed the need and advantages of electing representatives through the PR system in the context of Bangladesh. Jamaat leaders argued that, given the country’s current governance problems and crises, there is no viable alternative to elections under proportional representation. They said a PR system would ensure fair reflection of voters’ preferences, prevent vote dilution, check authoritarian tendencies, promote political diversity and pluralism, enrich the democratic space, and curb manipulation by muscle power and illicit money. They also claimed that the PR method would help ensure balanced, accountable government and secure adequate representation of women and minority groups in parliament