Marking International Democracy Day, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Golam Parwar has called for institutionalizing democracy in Bangladesh and ensuring that the next general election is held under a Proportional Representation (PR) system.

In a statement, Parwar said: “Democracy is the foundation of equality, rule of law, civil rights, and freedom of expression. The absence of democracy leads to the absence of these values.”

He accused what he termed a “fascist regime” of destroying democracy over the past 17 years, depriving citizens of voting rights, justice, social security, and fundamental freedoms. Referring to the July uprising as a “historic opportunity,” he urged all political parties and citizens to unite beyond party lines to institutionalize democracy.

Jamaat, he said, is committed to free, fair, and fearless elections under a PR system and demanded strict measures against election malpractice, including vote-buying, muscle power, and ballot-box capture.