BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury asserted that the people of Bangladesh have not handed over the responsibility of shaping the nation’s future to a handful of political parties.
Addressing the seminar on “Proportional Representation (PR) System: Elections and Critical Perspectives,” Khosru stated, “The people of Bangladesh have not authorised a few political parties to decide the country’s destiny.
“We do not possess the right to determine the future course of Bangladesh for the next 20 or 50 years.”
The event, jointly organised by Cosmos Foundation and United News of Bangladesh (UNB), took place at the Cosmos Centre in Mouchak, Dhaka.
Khosru emphasised that no party has been entrusted with deciding the future direction of Bangladesh, its democracy, or the democratic process. “We must engage in the democratic process, collaborate on reforms, and communicate with the people,” he added.
Highlighting the importance of restoring democratic order, Khosru stressed that the foremost step to bringing about change is holding an election under the current constitution to restore democracy.
He stated, “To restore democratic order and implement reforms, we must first conduct elections in line with the constitution.”
Responding to political parties that make demands under the threat of inaction, he advised, “If you truly believe in democracy, you must engage in public discussions and dialogue.
“This is the essence of democracy, and it is ongoing… All issues will eventually be resolved through constructive conversations.”
Khosru also addressed the demand for the PR system, urging those advocating for it to incorporate it into their manifestos and present it to the public.
“The people are not familiar with the PR system. It is the responsibility of those advocating for it to include it in their electoral platforms and seek public endorsement,” he said.
Referring to the National Consensus Commission, Khosru highlighted the importance of accepting the points that have reached consensus and moving forward.
“We must progress on the areas of agreement within the Consensus Commission, while continuing discussions on unresolved issues. The future government will tackle these with collective input,” he added.
Emphasising the need for political culture change, Khosru concluded, “We need to develop a political culture of tolerance and respect for opposing views. Without these qualities, democracy cannot flourish in a confrontational environment.”
In his speech as a special guest, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan warned against following the whims of individuals or groups.
He remarked, “If we continue this way, we risk repeating the mistakes of the previous government, which operated according to its own will.”
Dr Khan also mentioned that some political parties are pushing for the PR system with the expectation of securing additional seats in parliament. “The demand for PR is largely driven by the desire for more seats,” he said.
He concluded by calling for unity, stating, “Let us unite and work together to establish a stable democratic system that benefits the country and its people.”
Leaders from like-minded political parties participated in the seminar.
