BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday, in an oblique reference, accused Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami of siding with a vested quarter trying to create political unrest and obstruct the next national election.

“We are suspecting that this political party (Jamaat) is working in support of forces trying to make the political situation volatile, create instability and delay or even derail the next parliamentary election,” he said while speaking at a discussion.

The BNP leader warned that if the election is delayed or foiled, fascism will rise again which will inevitably lead to the emergence of undemocratic forces. “Do we want that? Of course not,” he said.

Salahuddin, a BNP Standing Committee member, said his party believes Jamaat is working in favour of those who want to destabilise the country and obstruct the election, as the Islamist party has taken to the streets with unjustified demands, including the introduction of the Proportional Representation (PR) system in the next election.

Salahuddin said even a political party that is now talking about the PR system took part in the one-sided election. “They’re now promoting the activities of the Awami League.”

The National Democratic Party (NDP) arranged the programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking its 36th founding anniversary.

Salahuddin reiterated BNP’s stance against the PR system, saying it would push the country into instability and political turmoil.

He said if the election is held under the PR system, governments would change so often that people’s expectations would never be fulfilled, and no party would be able to carry out its political pledges. “We must not allow Bangladesh to fall into such an unstable and uncertain situation by adopting this arrangement.”

The BNP leader said conflicting survey results about PR should not be used to mislead the public.

“I urge those political parties who are putting their own interests above the nation’s welfare and sacrificing the interests of the country and its people for political gain to return to the right path for the sake of the people of Bangladesh and stop confusing the public,” he said.

Under a PR system, the BNP leader said, independent candidates would lose their rights as they would not be able to contest elections because people would vote for parties and symbols, not individuals.

“Voters would not even know who they are voting for. Do we want a system that does not protect the democratic rights of the people of Bangladesh, or one that people cannot understand? Of course not. So, no party should try to mislead the nation by talking about the PR system,” he said.

Salahuddin said Article 65(2) of the Constitution clearly states that Parliament shall consist of 300 members elected in accordance with the law from single territorial constituencies by direct election.

Even then, he said, Jamaat leaders are claiming that the Constitution does not specifically mention anything about the election system.

Salahuddin said BNP and other democratic parties have been struggling over the past 16 years to restore and exercise the democratic rights of the people. “We are eagerly waiting to exercise those rights. We must ensure they are implemented. By exercising the right to vote, Bangladesh’s democratic journey will move forward.’

Entire world supports Bangladesh’s democratic transition: Mirza Fakhrul

He also said those elected to the next parliament must remain accountable and committed to implementing the reform programmes agreed upon through the National Consensus Commission.

The BNP leader warned that their party would never give in to the ill motives of any political party.

Salahuddin said no one has the right to change the Constitution without following a legal and constitutional process. “If we do so, it will create a bad precedent and lead to repeated demands for such changes in the future.”

“The state is not a child’s game. We cannot play with the fate of 180 million people. The country must be run in a lawful and systematic way. We can never bow to the motives of any political party. The will of the people is final — they are the true owners of this republic,” he observed.

Speaking about the proposed July Charter, Salahuddin said people could express their opinion through a referendum held on the same day as the national election. “If people say yes, then the newly elected parliament will have the mandate to implement that charter.”

He criticised any move to impose constitutional changes immediately through unconstitutional means, saying, “The Constitution is not something that can be changed overnight just because someone wishes to.”

Recalling the history of Bangladesh’s birth, Salahuddin said that when there was no constitution and the country was forced into war, the elected representatives at the time formed the Constituent Assembly and issued the Proclamation of Independence.

“They declared before the people that they had formed the Constituent Assembly and authorised the formation of the offices of President, Vice-President, and Cabinet to run the state on behalf of the people,” he said.

The BNP leader said the administration governed the country and issued all laws through presidential orders as part of a legitimate process.

“Later, the Constitution was framed, and elections were held under it. Since then, the constitutional process has continued properly without irregularities. So far, the Constitution has been amended 17 times, and there may be an 18th amendment in the future,” he said.

Salahuddin said they have always maintained that any changes made through national consensus must follow a lawful and constitutional path. “We hope the issues on which everyone has agreed, even with some differences, can be finalised through a valid and lawful process.”

He expressed hope that discussions on the proposed national charter, set for 5 October, would result in a fair, lawful, and widely accepted process of constitutional reform.