BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed on Thursday warned that holding elections under the Proportional Representation (PR) system could lead to the formation of another weak or fascist government similar to the current one led by Sheikh Hasina, resulting in permanent instability in the country.

Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist British Law Student Alliance (BNBLSA) at the Supreme Court Auditorium to mark its 15th founding anniversary, Salahuddin said, “One objective of demanding PR is to gain more seats, and the other is to create disunity and instability so that the majority party cannot come to power.”

He emphasized that the constitution clearly mandates direct voting for public representatives and criticized attempts to confuse the nation with misleading statements about PR elections. “If PR is implemented, party autocracy and individual autocracy will be established. The public sentiment is, ‘We voted in Sandwip and got an MP in the Maldives’ – that is what PR would be like,” he added.

Salahuddin questioned claims about the government’s authority to hold elections and urged political parties not to push unconstitutional or unlawful demands. He called on the interim government to uphold the rule of law and protect the constitutional framework of the country.

The seminar was presided over by BNBLSA Convener Wasi Parvez Tasin, with speeches by BNP International Affairs Secretary Barrister Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim. Senior Advocate Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Ragib Rauf Chowdhury attended as special guests.

MN/