Political commentator and activist Faham Abdus Salam has stirred conversation on social media with a sharply worded status criticizing what he described as the “contradictory logic” behind recent electoral reform demands made by several political parties.
Referring specifically to the National Consensus Party (NCP) and some allied groups, Faham highlighted the irony in their call for direct elections in the reserved women’s seats—while simultaneously advocating for a Proportional Representation (PR) system in the national parliament, where party leadership would select MPs based on party vote share.
In his Facebook post, Faham wrote:
“They want 100% directly elected women MPs, yet also demand a PR system where 100% MPs are picked by party leaders. Bangladesh truly is a land of contradictions.”
He further mocked the inconsistency by commenting,
“When Bengalis want something, they often don’t realize what it’ll actually mean once they get it—except when it comes to rice.”
The remarks come at a time when debates over electoral reform are intensifying. While NCP and parties like Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolon Bangladesh have supported a shift to PR, major parties like BNP have strongly opposed the idea, arguing that it would reduce voter influence and centralize power further in the hands of party leaders.
Faham’s post has since gone viral, drawing both praise and criticism. Supporters see it as an honest reflection of political opportunism, while critics argue it unfairly dismisses attempts at reform.
As discussions over women’s representation and voting systems continue, Faham’s commentary has added a satirical yet thought-provoking angle to the public discourse.
