What is proportional representation, can it work in Bangladesh?

After Bangladesh's interim government took over, several commissions were established to explore reforms to the state's systems, including electoral reforms. Among these, the idea of a proportional representation (PR) electoral system has gained traction, with various political parties advocating for its implementation.

The Jamaat-e-Islami is the first political party which voiced for proportional representation later the Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan, and the Communist Party have voiced their support for a PR system. 

However, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the country’s largest parties, opposes this idea and supports retaining the current parliamentary system. 

What is proportional representation?

In a PR electoral system, political parties receive seats in parliament in proportion to the number of votes they win. For instance, if a party secures 10% of the vote, it would receive 10% of the seats in parliament.

There are different forms of PR used worldwide: open, closed, and mixed-list systems. In each of these, the key is ensuring that the percentage of votes translates directly into the percentage of seats, preventing any party from gaining disproportionate power relative to its share of the vote.

Can PR work in Bangladesh?

Many political analysts believe that PR could help prevent autocracy and ensure a more accurate reflection of voter preferences in parliament. Under the current first-past-the-post system, a party can win a seat with a minority of the vote if it has more votes than any other candidate, leaving a large portion of the electorate unrepresented.

For example, in Bangladesh’s current system, a candidate could win a seat with 25% of the vote while 75% of voters may have supported other candidates. This can lead to situations where a party wins a majority of seats despite receiving far less than a majority of the vote nationally.

PR would eliminate this issue by giving each party representation based on its total share of votes, rather than individual seat victories. Smaller parties, which may currently receive significant votes but no seats, would also benefit from this system.

Challenges of implementing PR in Bangladesh

Despite the theoretical benefits, the implementation of PR in Bangladesh is not without challenges. The BNP, which believes it can secure a majority in the current system, strongly opposes the switch to PR. Additionally, the Awami League, another major political force, has not shown any interest in these reforms. The opposition of these two dominant parties raises questions about the feasibility of implementing PR without their consent.

Election analyst Professor Tofail Ahmed has noted that the introduction of PR would require a constitutional amendment, which, though challenging, is not impossible. He adds that many smaller political parties are in favor of PR, seeing it as a way to ensure fair representation and avoid future autocratic rule.

Some argue that PR might lead to unstable governments because no single party would likely achieve a majority under this system. Instead, coalition governments would become the norm, potentially creating a political landscape marked by frequent negotiations and compromise. 

Historical context and global examples

PR is used in 91 countries, including many in Europe and two in South Asia. Countries like Nepal have successfully implemented this system after the fall of long-term monarchies or autocratic regimes, ensuring a more balanced representation of political parties. Analysts suggest that Bangladesh could follow a similar path if there were sufficient political will and public demand.

While PR offers an appealing solution to Bangladesh’s long-standing issues with electoral representation, its success depends on broad consensus among the country’s political parties. Currently, the lack of support from the major players makes this change unlikely in the near future.

The proportional electoral system, if implemented in Bangladesh, could provide a more accurate reflection of public opinion and help prevent autocratic rule. However, the opposition of major political parties, like BNP and Awami League, presents a significant barrier.

Moving forward, any potential shift toward PR would require not only constitutional changes but also widespread political agreement, something that remains uncertain in Bangladesh’s polarised political climate.

Source: BBC