Moudud: Dhaka city polls will be a farce

Senior BNP leader Moudud Ahmed has said their party nominated mayoral candidates for two Dhaka city corporations will win the election if it is free and fair. 

He made the remarks at a discussion meeting organized by Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday.

Senior BNP leader Moudud Ahmed said the Election Commission’s (EC) arrangements for elections to two Dhaka city corporations is mere an eyewash as the polls will finally turn into a farce.  

“I would like say the Dhaka city polls are mere an eyewash. You will see uproars, processions and slogans, but all enthusiasm will be over just before two days the elections,” he said, reports UNB.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said a councillor candidate of the party was arrested on Thursday. 

“There is an arrest spree and panic is being created while election activities are also going on. These are eyewash. This election is nothing but a farce of democracy,” he added.

Though they know the Dhaka polls are a farce, their party joined it as it is a democratic political party with huge public support, said Moudud.

“If people can cast their votes, the candidates of BNP will defeat the Awami League’s aspirants with big margins in Dhaka polls. We also know the government will not let it happen. That is why the election going to be held on January 30 is an eyewash,” he said.

The BNP leader also said the government will again prove through the city polls that democracy has been destroyed.

Moudud, also a BNP standing committee member, said the government is influencing the judiciary, to deny BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia bail is a glaring example of it.

He also said just a day after the court’s order on Khaleda’s bail petition, the prime minister said Khaleda Zia had been staying in jail like a queen and she is fine. “We got the reflection of her signal in the court order.” 

The BNP leader said it is not possible now to free Khaleda Zia without a movement. 

“We will announce programs, and this time we will not return home until we succeed,” he added.

Moudud alleged that the government cannot protect the country’s interest as it is following a knee-jerking foreign policy.