Proportional Representation: Unlikely to Be Recommended

Daily Bijoy News Correspondent:

The Electoral Reform Commission is expected to avoid recommending a proportional representation system, despite the proposal being supported by most political parties. The reform commission is expected to submit its report to Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus in the near future.

"We are not planning to recommend the introduction of proportional representation," said a commission member, speaking on condition of anonymity. Proportional representation is an electoral system where the allocation of seats in parliament reflects the percentage of votes each party receives. For instance, if a party secures 40 percent of the total votes, the PR system ensures it gets 40 percent of the seats.

When contacted, Electoral Reform Commission Chairman Badiul Alam Majumdar declined to give a direct response on the issue. "Proportional representation is a matter that falls under the jurisdiction of the Constitution Reform Commission," he stated. Badiul also mentioned that the Electoral Reform Commission is making every effort to submit its report today.

Prof. Ali Riaz, Chairman of the Constitution Reform Commission, stated that they have received proposals both supporting and opposing the proportional representation system.

"We are carefully reviewing the arguments from both sides," he told The Daily Bijoy News. He added, "We have also studied the pros and cons of the system. Since our recommendations are still being finalized, I cannot disclose any specific proposals at this stage, particularly those related to proportional representation."

Currently, Bangladesh uses the first-past-the-post system, where the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins a seat in parliament.

The interim government formed the Electoral Reform Commission, along with five other commissions, on October 3, asking for their reports within 90 days. However, the government extended the deadline by 15 days, with Abdul Alim, a member of the commission, confirming the extension.

Since its formation, the Electoral Reform Commission has solicited proposals from various stakeholders, including political parties, former chief election commissioners, members of citizen platforms, and the general public.

Sources within political parties revealed that Jamaat-e-Islami, the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh had all advocated for the proportional representation system in their proposals to the reform commission.

However, the BNP opposed the system. A standing committee member of the party informed The Daily Star that the BNP did not include proportional representation in their own proposals.

The BNP leader, who requested anonymity, warned that proportional representation could benefit the Awami League, which was ousted following the 2024 mass uprising. He also expressed concerns that such a system might encourage bribery, as candidates’ fates would depend on party nominations rather than the popular vote.

"We don't support the proportional representation system," Abdul Moyeen Khan, a BNP standing committee member, told The Daily Bijoy News. "We believe in the 'one voter, one vote' principle, which has been the foundation of the Westminster system for centuries. People vote not just for the party, but for individual candidates as well."

Daily Bijoy News/ Chaddopodi