Bangladesher Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) yesterday proposed introduction of proportional representation election, reports UNB. Leaders of the party placed their proposals at a dialogue arranged by the Election Commission (EC) in the city’s Nirbachan Bhaban with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.

The Basad delegation, led by its general secretary (chief) Khalequzzaman, placed a 13-point proposal. Seeking the introduction of proportional representation electoral system, Basad in its written proposal said the 300 parliamentary constituencies should be distributed proportionately among political parties on the basis of votes. The leftist party also proposed increasing the number of reserved seats for women to 100 from the existing 50 ones as well as arrangement of direct elections to the 100 seats during the next parliamentary elections.

Basad suggested enactment of an appropriate law for appointing the chief election commissioner and election commissioners to fix the number of commissioners and their qualifications.

Basad’s other proposals include reducing election expenditure ceiling for an MP candidate from the existing Tk 25 lakh to maximum Tk 10 lakh, using electronic voting machines on trial basis and relieving MPs from their posts with the announcement of election schedule.