BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has criticized several political parties' demand for proportional representation in parliament, saying that if implemented, the country would once again fall under authoritarian rule.
He made the remarks on Thursday morning while inaugurating a voluntary blood donation and blood grouping campaign at the BNP office in Rangpur city.
The program is part of events organized to mark the anniversary of the July mass uprising.
Rizvi questioned the intention behind the demand for proportional representation, saying: “What is the reason behind their demand? If this is done, then no one from a particular area will be able to become a leader.”
He said that under proportional representation, people would have to vote for political parties, which would prevent those who genuinely want to serve the public from becoming leaders.
He added that the BNP supports traditional democratic systems where representatives are elected by direct vote.
“We want a democratic system where 120 million voters will cast their votes to elect the candidates of their choice. Proportional voting is contradictory to democratic practice.”
Calling for unity among all democratic forces, Rizvi said: “We may criticize each other, but for the greater interest of the country, we must cooperate with one another. That is the beauty of democracy.”
Rizvi termed the July uprising a historic, blood-soaked struggle that led to the expulsion of what he called a "one-eyed monster."
He added: “During the 16-year rule of fascist Hasina, the days were unbearable. For 16 years, neither the youth nor their families could sleep in peace, fearing enforced disappearances, abductions, torture, and killings.”
He said that it was the student movement and the people who forced Sheikh Hasina to flee. “We are proud of Abu Sayed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, who played a key role in taking the July movement towards final victory by sacrificing his life."
He mentioned that like Abu Sayed, hundreds of thousands of young students. including Faiyaz, Mugdho, and Wasim Akram, took to the streets, forcing Hasina to flee.
Despite all of this, Rizvi alleged: “The killer Hasina is still calling them militants, and daring to call the uprising a riot.”
He urged all democratic forces to remain united so that "bloodthirsty" forces can never return to power again.
Rizvi also demanded the trial of Hasina and her associates, as well as those involved in looting hundreds of crores of taka.
