Special Correspondent: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer, Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, said on Tuesday that 26 out of 31 political parties represented in the Consensus Commission have expressed support for proportional representation (PR) in elections.

However, some parties prefer the system only for the upper house, while others, including Jamaat, want it in both houses, he added.

Taher made the remarks after a meeting with a high-level European Parliament delegation in Dhaka.

Speaking to reporters, he said the discussions focused on Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections and the current political situation.

“Jamaat wants elections under the proportional representation system, at least for one time,” Taher said, stressing that the prevailing culture of forcibly capturing polling centers to secure parliamentary seats must change.

Jamaat chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman, who also attended the meeting, described the discussions with the European Parliament delegation as fruitful.