Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has proposed holding a referendum in November to implement the July Charter, and conducting the next parliamentary election under a Proportional Representation (PR) system, instead of the existing traditional method.

The party also recommended that election officials be appointed through a lottery system to ensure neutrality in the national election process.

On Monday afternoon, a five-member Jamaat delegation held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and four election commissioners at the Election Commission office in Dhaka.

After the meeting, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher briefed reporters on their proposals.

Speaking about the discussion with the CEC, Taher said, “There are two systems, PR and traditional. Previously, we followed the traditional system, but in 54 years, it has failed to deliver fair elections. If a PR system is adopted, issues like ballot-stuffing and vote manipulation become less likely. We’ve asked the Election Commission to consider both systems.”

He further stressed that referendum and national elections are fundamentally different in nature.

“If the national election is held first, political parties will focus solely on winning, sidelining reforms. On the other hand, if the national election is postponed, the referendum will also be delayed. But the two should not be tied together,” he said.

Taher added that the Election Commission informed them it would execute the government’s decision if one is made regarding a referendum.

“The EC said it has no objection. A referendum is relatively simple and does not require significant financial investment. If ballot boxes for the national election are purchased a few days earlier, the same can be used for the referendum. The only additional expenses would be for ballots, ink, and the deployment of election officials.”

Explaining the need for a referendum before the national election, Taher said, “Some argue that holding a referendum may create unrest, putting the national election at risk. But if problems are going to arise, it’s better we face them early and understand the risks. If chaos breaks out during the national election instead, both the election and the public’s trust may be lost.”

He reiterated that the referendum and national polls should be treated separately, saying, “We’ve clearly told the government and today we’ve informed the EC, prepare mentally to separate the referendum from the national election. We’ve presented all our arguments. The EC said it would execute whatever the government decides, and it has no issue with that.”

Additionally, Taher mentioned that Jamaat proposed allowing Bangladeshi expatriates to register as voters using birth certificates.

He also confirmed that the party has formally proposed that election officials be appointed through a lottery, stating,

“We emphasised that this method would help ensure neutrality in appointments.”