BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the question of adopting a proportional representation (PR) system should be decided by the people, not imposed by any political party or authority.

Speaking at a seminar on electoral reforms at the Cosmos Centre in Dhaka on Saturday, Khasru said the Election Commission cannot expect all parties to reach a consensus on the PR system.

“The people have not authorized any political party to hold a referendum on PR. Dismissing discussions because of disagreements is not democracy. Matters of difference should be debated in parliament,” he added.

Khasru also stressed the importance of tolerance for differing opinions in the country’s political culture, saying meaningful dialogue is impossible without it.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad said the PR system is crucial to make Bangladesh’s election process fair and error-free.