BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has accused political forces of pushing the proportional representation (PR) system as part of a deliberate scheme to disrupt elections.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday at BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, Rizvi said, “Whenever a party thinks a system will benefit them politically, they try to impose it forcefully. This reflects political jealousy and self-interest. The PR system is being pushed with the clear aim of undermining elections.”

He added that the PR system poses a threat to Bangladesh’s democratic continuity and political stability. “BNP has long fought for democracy, which means respecting diverse opinions. While all parties have the right to voice their demands, suddenly imposing PR and claiming elections cannot proceed without it is misleading,” Rizvi said.

Rizvi noted that the public has little awareness or interest in PR, which conflicts with the traditional practice of voting for local candidates.Bangladeshi products online

He warned that in countries like Israel and Nepal, PR has caused political instability, and even in France, it is being reconsidered. “In an emerging democracy like Bangladesh, PR could be highly destabilizing. Its trial implementation could be as risky as the previous use of electronic voting machines, which faced widespread fraud,” he added.

BNP Joint Secretary General Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel and Co-Office Secretary Munir Hossain were present during the briefing.