Dhaka: Terming Wednesday’s district council polls unconstitutional, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Tuesday said the government is holding such elections as part of its move to restore ‘Ayub Khan’s basic democracy’.

“The district council polls must be held with common people’s votes as per the constitution. The ongoing district council election is completely contrary to the charter as only elected representatives will be allowed to cast ballots,” he said.

He further said, “The election is going to be held with chairmen and members of selective union parishads and upazila parishads. It’s similar to Ayub Khan’s basic democracy.  It suggests the government is now trying to restore the basic democracy.”

Moudud, a BNP standing committee member, came up with the comments at a discussion at National Press Club arranged by ‘Chetanai Bangladeshi Jatiyatabad,’ a pro-BNP platform. 

The maiden district council election is scheduled to be held on Wednesday in a non-partisan manner unlike polls to other local bodies. The balloting will be held from 8am to 2pm in 1,830 booths of 915 polling stations in 61 districts except three Chittagong Hill Tract districts -- Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.

A total of 63,143 voters, including 14,800 women, who are elected representatives of other local bodies, will cast ballots in the district council elections in 61 districts. However, 22 out of 61 chairman posts went uncontested because of single candidate against each post.

Moudud feared that the current type of district council polls will contribute to destroying the country’s democracy further. “People’s hopes and aspirations will not be reflected with the unconstitutional polls.  Instead, it’s exposing the government’s attitude and desires.”

Describing the district council polls as one-party ones, he said it is mockery of election where only some ruling party men are contesting against each other.

According to articles 59 and 60 of the constitution, Moudud said all the elections to local bodies must be held with common people and all the representatives will be elected with their votes. “When they (AL) had introduced one-party rule, they deleted the two articles so that they themselves could hold the elections to union councils and municipalities... the two articles have been restored with the 12th amendment.”

Turning to Narayanganj city polls, he said the government is very happy over its results as it thinks this fair election has proved its growing popularity. “If you believe it, hold a fair general election to asses your popularity.”