Smaller parties can merge to become a force
First-past-the-post is an electoral system where small parties have difficulty winning seats, so Bangladesh needs fewer political parties. Simple vanity creates an excess of parties as people enjoy “leader” status, particularly when there's no risk of actually winning and needing to take responsibility.
Many small parties contribute little to their alliances as separate entities (no seats). They should explore formal mergers with other parties in the same position as consolidation is also a potential solution to AL/BNP dominance. One imagines a competitive system with several medium to large parties of different types: secular (socialist, centrist, free-market), Islamist (conservative, moderate), Bengali nationalist or others. These new parties would be stronger and more adaptable as their members share common principles but also hold varying opinions on some issues due to their pre-merger party affiliations. To enable these parties to reach their full potential, Article 70 must be repealed.
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