Without proportional representation based polls and July Charter, fascism will return: Jamaat's Parwar
“Those who want to bring back dictatorship and fascism, like during the Awami era, are the ones pushing for elections without reforms," he added
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and central adviser of the Forum of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (FDEB), Mia Golam Parwar, has warned that if proportional representation (PR) elections are not introduced and the July Charter is not given legal foundation, "fascism will re-emerge in the country."
Speaking as the chief guest at a roundtable titled "PR-based elections and the legal basis of the July Charter" organised by the FDEB at the National Press Club yesterday afternoon (1 September), he said, "71% of the people want elections under the PR system. Without implementation of the July Charter, the blood of students and people will go in vain. If elections are held without reforms, fascism will return again."
"Those who want to bring back dictatorship and fascism, like during the Awami era, are the ones pushing for elections without reforms. Even those brought to power after the July Revolution are now compromising with fascism. In this reality, ensuring free, fair, neutral, and participatory elections, there is no alternative to PR," he added.
Special guest Professor Syed Abdul Aziz said that implementing the PR system would ensure representation of small parties and diverse voices in parliament, thereby strengthening democracy. He also termed the July Charter a "historic proposal" in Bangladesh's political and constitutional journey that requires broad national consensus for its legal grounding and implementation.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Other speakers noted that 91 countries worldwide already practise PR. They argued that if introduced in Bangladesh, it would help prevent fascist tendencies, foster a culture of dialogue, and establish a truly participatory multi-party government.
FDEB Acting President Engineer Md Abdus Sattar Shah, who presided over the roundtable, recalled that 9 diploma engineers were martyred and hundreds injured in the July movement. He expressed hope that the views expressed at the event would play a constructive role in future reforms and policy-making.
The discussion was also attended by academics, engineers, lawyers, journalists, and professional bodies who stressed the urgency of both PR-based elections and legal recognition of the July Charter in the interest of democratic development and good governance.
