News Desk:

A Bangladeshi-born philosopher and democracy advocate based in the United Kingdom, A. N. M. Essa, has submitted a proposal on electoral reform and democratic representation to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In his letter, titled "Proposal for Discussion on Electoral Reform and Majority Representation in Democratic Systems," Essa calls for international discussion and academic research on innovative electoral models that could enhance democratic representation.
According to the letter, the idea originated in 2006 during a prolonged period of political unrest in Bangladesh, when nationwide strikes and demonstrations caused significant political instability, economic disruption, and social tension. Essa states that these events prompted him to reflect on the limitations of existing democratic systems and the need for more inclusive forms of political representation.
He argues that while democracy is generally understood as the rule of the majority, many electoral systems allow governments to be formed with the support of only a minority of the total eligible electorate. As an illustration, he notes that if around 40 percent of eligible voters do not participate in an election and the winning candidate receives 51 percent of the remaining votes cast, that candidate effectively represents only about 31 percent of all eligible voters.
To address what he describes as a democratic deficit, Essa proposes the "Two-MP Formula." Under this model, each electoral constituency would elect both the candidate receiving the highest number of votes and the candidate receiving the second-highest number of votes as Members of Parliament. He argues that such a system could broaden parliamentary representation and better reflect the views of a larger proportion of the electorate.
The proposal also suggests that the model could encourage political coexistence, reduce post-election polarization, and strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions by ensuring that substantial segments of the electorate are represented in parliament.
In his letter, Essa invites the United Nations, academic institutions, electoral experts, and policymakers around the world to promote research and dialogue on electoral innovations that may contribute to more representative, inclusive, and peaceful democratic systems. Concluding his appeal, he writes that democracy should continue to evolve in pursuit of its highest purpose: genuine representation of the people and peaceful governance based on the broadest possible public consent. Essa identifies himself as the proponent of the Two-MP Formula and the philosophy of Genuine Democracy (Substantive Democracy). He is also the Founder and Convener of the International Remittance Warriors Parliament and is currently based in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.