BNP’s Central Legal Affairs Secretary, Barrister Kaiser Kamal, has alleged that certain political parties, particularly Jamaat-e-Islami, are using the demand for a Proportional Representation (PR) voting system as a pretext to delay or derail upcoming elections in Bangladesh.
Speaking at a Kumari Puja ceremony on the occasion of Durga Puja's Ashtami at Ramakrishna Ashram in Chanpur, Netrokona’s Kolmakanda upazila on Tuesday afternoon, Barrister Kamal stated, “The people of this country have not had the right to vote for the past 17 years. Now, they are eager to cast their votes. Those advocating for PR don’t even understand what it truly entails. The people did not shed blood for PR; they did so to establish democracy.”
He continued, “Even the birthplace of parliamentary democracy, the UK, does not conduct general elections under a PR system. Countries like Australia, Canada, and India—where democracy is practised robustly—also don’t use PR. Jamaat-e-Islami and similar groups are invoking PR as a political ploy, using religion to create division and destabilise the democratic process. We must resist their attempts.”
Barrister Kamal added that PR can certainly be discussed, but it should be part of an election manifesto, not used to obstruct elections. “Let us not create confusion around the election. People are ready to vote, and the entire nation is now in an election mood,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion of Kumari Puja, he highlighted, “This ritual symbolises reverence for women as divine power. Scriptures say every woman possesses the strength of a goddess. Through this Puja, we honour that power. Our country is secular, where people of all faiths should live peacefully and practise their religion freely. Let us uphold unity and harmony among all communities.”
