Professor Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami and former Member of Parliament, has stated that the days of ruling the country through force are over. He emphasized that those who dream of staying in power for life by suppressing the opposition are living in the past. He challenged the government to hold a referendum, saying that Jamaat respects the people’s verdict. “You can’t just push things through by force,” he added.
Speaking at a protest rally in Rangpur Public Library field after Friday (19 September) Jumu’ah prayers, Golam Parwar argued that without implementing important reforms, holding elections under the current state system would result in the emergence of another “Hasina” and a new form of fascism, which the people of Bangladesh would not allow.
Addressing the interim government regarding the PR system, he said, “Whenever I talk about the PR system, you show me the Constitution. But if you follow the Constitution, then the seat you are sitting in is illegal. According to the Constitution, elections are supposed to be held in 2029 after five years, so why are you talking about elections in February 2026?”
Further, Golam Parwar asserted that 70% of people in surveys support the PR system, and 25 out of 31 parties in the Consensus Commission are in favor of it. He questioned the legitimacy of any political leader who dismisses the PR system, stating that this was not something any leader should say. He demanded a referendum on the PR system, urging the government to let the people decide whether they want it or not. Jamaat-e-Islami, he stated, would accept the people’s decision either way, but the government feared a public vote.
He further explained that if the PR system is implemented, it would ensure quality parliament and government, free from muscle power and black money, thus reducing the possibility of fascism emerging in any political party. According to him, this is the reason the government is trying to block the PR system.
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