Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has iterated that the party does not support holding elections through a Proportional Representation (PR) system, stressing that free and fair national elections are the only path to political and economic liberation for the country.
Fakhrul made the remarks upon his return to Bangladesh after a seven-day medical visit to Thailand. He arrived at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 6:00pm on Tuesday, August 19, where he spoke briefly with journalists.
“The people of Bangladesh want elections—real, credible, and nationwide elections under a neutral caretaker government,” Fakhrul said. “There is no alternative to national polls for resolving the ongoing political crisis and paving the way for democratic and economic renewal.”
He dismissed the idea of a PR-based electoral system as unsuitable for the current situation, warning that any deviation from direct constituency-based voting would undermine public trust and democratic legitimacy.
On the upcoming Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) elections, Fakhrul expressed hope that the polls would be held freely, fairly, and inclusively, with the participation of all student groups. “DUCSU elections should be conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner, reflecting the true voice of the students,” he said.