Decision on PR system lies with the people: Salahuddin Ahmed

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has said that it is for the people to decide whether elections will be held under the proportional representation (PR) system. He made the remark on Saturday (September 20) at a discussion titled “The Third Dialogue on State Thought of the Youth—Education and Campuses with Human Values” at the Diploma Engineers’ Institute in the capital.

Salahuddin Ahmed said, “Some newspapers are reporting that Jamaat will form the government and BNP will become the opposition. I want to ask Jamaat—why so many excuses? Why not come to the election?”

He further said, “Those who fanned with hand fans were also Jamaat’s allies. Why take to the streets to put extra pressure on the government? If an issue is at the discussion table, we will not take it to the streets. We believe it will be resolved at the table. If the people want the PR system, the people will decide.”

Regarding the July Charter, he said, “We have sought the opinion of the judiciary on the legal basis of how it can be implemented in the Constitution.”

Calling for unity without creating new crises, the senior BNP leader said, “Any party may make demands, but it is not right to impose them on the nation. We should not impose on each other. The changes we want will not come overnight. Let us not create new crises, let us preserve unity.”

Emphasising technical education, he added, “Universities cannot be centres for producing jobs; they must remain centres of free thinking. If BNP receives the people’s mandate, we will emphasise technical education. We will create one lakh employment opportunities each year.”