At a time when the nation is heading towards the national election by the end of this year, Jamaat's demand that the election should be held only after completing reforms to state institutions relevant to the electoral process has come as a surprise. While it is undeniable that our vital institutions urgently need fundamental reforms, the necessity and significance of holding the 13th national election as soon as possible cannot be overstated, especially since voters have been deprived of their right to vote in the last three elections. And as we have previously stated, it should be possible to both hold the election and implement crucial reforms by the end of the year.

The six reform commissions have already submitted their reports with recommendations, which have been made available to the public. Yesterday, the first meeting of the National Consensus Commission was held with political parties to review these recommendations and build consensus ahead of the election. We still have around 9 to 10 months before the election to reach an agreement on the major reforms that should be completed prior to the election. Therefore, Jamaat's stance regarding the timing of the polls is not a judicious one and largely reflects its own partisan interests.

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Reform dialogue must deliver consensus

Besides demanding reforms before elections, the party has also called for a proportional representation system and local government elections prior to the national election. These demands stand in stark contrast to those of the BNP, which was its long-time ally.

We believe Jamaat's demand for a proportional representation system has some merit, as it would prevent a sweeping majority from stultifying the parliament, as we have experienced in the past. Furthermore, there is no doubt that a proportional representation system better reflects public opinion compared to the first-past-the-post system. However, there is reportedly strong disagreement among political parties regarding this system. Also, given its unfamiliarity to the public, we think it should be planned for the election after the next. By that time, people should be made aware of the system and how it works. We are also in favour of holding local government elections before the national election, but only if it does not delay the national election. At a time when the country is going through a difficult phase without an elected government in place, the national election is far more crucial than local elections. We believe that an elected government can bring more stability to the country and improve overall governance.

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Unity and consensus are key to achieving reforms

Therefore, we hope all political parties will reach a consensus on the necessary reforms before the election. We urge both Jamaat and BNP, as well as other political parties, to rise above their partisan interests and prioritise national interests. This would best be achieved by holding the national election by the end of the year.