BNP leaders link Nepal’s uprising to flawed proportional representation
The ongoing political upheaval in Nepal is, in part, a direct consequence of the country’s Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system, which has led to weak, unstable governments that fail to reflect the true aspirations of the people, according to Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Advisor to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
Speaking to Jago News, Alal argued that the PR system, adopted in Nepal to ensure inclusivity, has instead created a fragmented political landscape, enabling short-lived coalitions and fostering elite-centric governance detached from public needs.
“One of the root causes of today’s uprising in Nepal is this very electoral model,” he said. “When governments are unstable and unaccountable, public frustration inevitably boils over.”
Alal highlighted that the leaders driving Nepal’s current mass movement were inspired by the recent democratic victories in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. “The youth of Bangladesh, in particular, have become an international model for peaceful yet powerful change,” he said, referring to the July 2024 mass uprising that ended authoritarian rule in the country. “Their courage and unity have lit a spark across South Asia.”
He stressed the importance of understanding geopolitical dynamics in navigating such transformative moments.
“The sooner a nation grasps its geopolitical reality, the more stable it can become,” Alal said. “Geopolitics and diplomacy are not just tools of foreign policy—they are essential for domestic survival in our volatile region.”
BNP leaders emphasised that the eruption of youth-led protests in Nepal was not unexpected, given the shared political culture of South Asia, where democratic backsliding, corruption, and economic hardship have become systemic. They described the uprising as a continuation of a regional wave of people’s power, following the footsteps of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
“The situation we are seeing in Nepal is what happens when democracy is hollowed out and people’s rights are trampled,” said BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu. “Bangladesh has shown the way: there is no alternative to a mass uprising when autocracy takes hold. It happened in Sri Lanka, it happened in Bangladesh, and now it has happened in Nepal. This trend could very well spread across South Asia.”
Echoing this sentiment, BNP Vice Chairman Dr. Asaduzzaman Ripon described the phenomenon as the rise of Gen Z, a term symbolising a new generation of politically awakened youth rising against entrenched power structures. “The Gen Z revolution has arrived in the subcontinent,” he said. “The current unrest in Nepal was foreseeable. I would not be surprised if similar mass movements erupt in India or Pakistan as well.”
Dr. Ripon warned that ruling elites across the region must heed the message. “This uprising is a lesson for all rulers and politicians. If justice is not delivered now, the cycle of mass resistance will repeat. The people have found their voice—and they will not be silenced.”
With Nepal’s streets filled with young protesters demanding systemic overhaul, BNP leaders urged regional governments to recognize the shifting tectonics of power. “The age of top-down governance is over,” said Alal. “The future belongs to the people. And the youth of Bangladesh have shown them the path.”