Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Major (retired) Hafizuddin Ahmed opposed the introduction of the Proportional Representation system in the next national election, saying that the people in Bangladesh had long been accustomed to voting for individuals rather than symbols.
Speaking at an event at the Jatiya Press Club, he said that voters wanted to elect a person they could trust, someone who would stand by them in their happiness and sorrow. 鈥業n such a context, discussions over a symbol-centric PR election are irrelevant.鈥�
Expressing confidence in the Election Commission, the BNP leader said that his party was ready to contest the election under the current government and commission.
He hoped the next polls would pave the way to end the 鈥榤isrule鈥� of the Hasina era. 鈥楾hrough a credible election, the interim government should set an example.鈥�
Criticising Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Hafizuddin accused the party of spreading confusion to delay the polls. 鈥楩or a long time they were BNP鈥檚 allies. Now, ahead of the election, the issues, they are raising, are surprising.鈥�
鈥楯amaat has claimed that the July declaration did not emphasise the establishment of Pakistan. Those who remember history know that this same Jamaat opposed the creation of Pakistan in 1947, and later, in 1971, stood for Pakistan and opposed our Liberation War,鈥� he added.
Hafizuddin alleged that several parties had already assumed that they would lose their security deposits in national election, which was why they were supporting the PR system.
On constitutional reforms, Hafizuddin said that the current government had no mandate to amend the constitution, though it could provide an outline. 鈥楾he reforms will have to be done by an elected government.鈥�
Reiterating that BNP would accept any election result if the polls were fair, Hafizuddin said that if anyone came to power through a credible voting process, they would accept it.
He, however, alleged that some quarters were still trying to foil the election.
While praising the chief adviser for attempting to work for the country鈥檚 welfare, he said that many of the adviser鈥檚 associates had been overcome by a lust for power. 鈥楾hey want to monopolise authority instead of walking the electoral path,鈥� he claimed.
