Political divide surfaces over PR system, local govt elections

As the country navigates a precarious transitional phase under an interim government following July-August uprising, political fissures have surfaced over two contentious issues-the proposal to introduce a Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system and the sequencing of local government elections before the upcoming national polls. 

Divergent views from political stakeholders gathered by the media, underscore a growing rift concerning democratic legitimacy, constitutional intent and institutional preparedness.

BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain refrained from commenting directly on other parties' electoral propositions but emphasized, "Different political parties have different political ideology and political demands." 

On the issue of local government elections preceding national ones, he categorically stated that such steps would not fulfill the core objectives of the interim administration, which include ensuring the right to vote and facilitating a peaceful power transition by February. "These important goals cannot be achieved through local government elections. Holding parliamentary elections first is necessary to give people real options to exercise their right to vote and to keep their promises," he asserted.

Addressing the PR system, Mosharraf expressed deep skepticism. "Our country has never used the proportional representation system in elections and our people are not familiar with it. In the PR system, a person becomes a member of parliament based on party votes not direct individual choice. This system does not allow voters to choose a specific person with their vote," he explained adding, "This kind of election system will not meet the real expectation of the people of the country."

Echoing similar reservations, Gano Forum General Secretary Dr Mizanur Rahman stated, "Nobody in our country is used to the PR system. We want the election in the way we are used to and the election culture the people in the country are accustomed with. We demand a free and fair national election first." 

He stressed that institutional capacity remains inadequate. "When the government has no ability to organize a national election, it's a very daunting task for that government to arrange local government elections," he argued. Mizanur accused authorities of politicising law enforcement and compromising judicial independence. "Police and officials can't work independently. Filing a single murder case against 400 to 500 people, general public are getting confused and defendants are not getting remedy," he warned. 

In contrast, Islami Andolon Bangladesh Ameer and Charmonai Pir Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim endorsed the PR model as a mechanism to democratize the vote. "The PR system of election will ensure the evaluation of each and every voter's vote across the country. This system will also drive the final nail into the coffin of fascism in Bangladesh," he said. On local body polls, he remarked, "By holding local government election before general election, we want to see how much change we can bring to the political culture of our political parties after the last year's July-August uprising."

However, Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque rejected both proposals as distractions. "The question of local government election right now is baseless. We fought for 16 to 17 years for our voting rights and for a free and fair election. We must not fight for a local government!" He accused proponents of such reforms of harbouring ulterior motives.

 "Most of them are beneficiaries by the existing interim government in various ways. They have an intention to prolong the tenure of this government," he said. Saiful nevertheless supported the PR concept conditionally asserting, "A consensus and understanding among the political parties is a must, which is yet to be established." 

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince extended conditional support for the PR model but emphasized that such reforms must come following an elected government. "The next election should be conducted in accordance with the existing system and then the elected government may introduce PR system amending the existing one."

Ganasamhati Andolon's Executive Coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel proposed a bicameral parliament with PR at the upper house but stressed national elections must precede any reforms. "National and democratic rebuilding is our priority," he concluded.