Proportional Representation Needed to Prevent Fascism in Bangladesh: Jamaat Leader

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has warned that holding elections without a Proportional Representation (PR) system could pave the way for the return of fascism in the country.

Speaking at a protest rally in Rangpur on Friday afternoon, Porwar stated that the days of consolidating power through brute force are over in Bangladesh. The rally was part of Jamaat’s nationwide protest programs held across all major cities to press home a five-point demand.

Five-Point Demand Includes PR-Based Elections

Following a major rally in Dhaka, Jamaat has now begun organizing programs at the divisional level. On Friday, Rangpur Metropolitan Jamaat held a large public gathering at the Public Library Field, which was filled to capacity before the official start time. A protest march through key streets in Rangpur city followed the rally.

In his keynote speech, Parwar said the current political structure could allow a repeat of authoritarian rule if elections are held under the existing system. He called on the government to hold a national referendum to determine whether the people support transitioning to a proportional representation model.

“A certain faction is trying to manipulate the government through pressure tactics,” he said. “No one will be allowed to monopolize political power through dominance anymore.”

Nationwide Protests for Electoral Reform

The demand for proportional representation was echoed in other cities. In Mymensingh, Jamaat held a rally at the Krisnochura Chattar near the railway station, where Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubayer declared that fair elections are impossible without electoral reform.

Similar rallies and demonstrations were held in Sylhet, Barisal, Khulna, and other major metropolitan areas under the same five-point agenda, which also includes the legal recognition of the July Charter and broader electoral reforms.