‘Next national polls to follow other parliamentary democracies’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday reiterated that the next general elections in Bangladesh will be held as per the Constitution and follow the other parliamentary democracies across the world. “The next general elections in Bangladesh will be held the way elections are being held in other parliamentary system of democracies,” she said while addressing a meeting with peers and members of the UK Parliament at London Hilton Hotel.
Hasina said that her government had strengthened the Election Commission and it is now working independently.
She claimed that all the elections in different tiers held during the tenure of the present government were free, fair and credible.
In this regard, she referred to the recently held four city corporation elections in Rahshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and Barisal, and freshly in Gazipur City Corporation where the Awami League-backed candidates lost the polls.
“Of the five city corporations, some were the strongholds of Awami League, but its candidates had to concede defeats. This means the elections could be held in free, fair and neutral manner under this government,” she said.
The prime minister mentioned the holding of about 6,000 elections in different tiers in a free, fair and peaceful manner where no allegation was raised against the results.
“Of the five city corporations, some were the strongholds of Awami League, but its candidates had to concede defeats. This means that elections could held in free, fair and neutral manner under this government,” she added.
In this context, Hasina mentioned the holding of about 6,000 elections in different tiers in a free, fair and peaceful manner where no allegation was raised against the results.
Turning to the ‘Rana Plaza’ building collapse on April 24 this year where more than 1,100 RMG workers lost their lives, she said such incidents could take place anywhere in the world.
But, soon after the incident, the government took prompt steps to rescue the injured workers alive, gave them proper treatment alongside providing financial assistance to the family members of the victims and the injured, she added.
The PM said that her government immediately started salvage operation with outmost sincerity and rescued most of the people alive from under the debris of the collapsed building.
Besides, she said her government provided financial assistance to the Savar victims so that their families can survive in the society with dignity.
Hasina mentioned that 654 families have so far been provided with financial assistance in the form of Family Savings Certificates and the rest of the families would be provided with financial assistance in phases.
Besides, she said her government has also taken measures to ensure studies of the children who lost their mother or father at the Savar building collapse.
Hasina also mentioned that after assuming office this time, her government increased the minimum wages of the garment workers to Tk 3,000 from Tk 1,600 and side by side gave attention for ensuring their other facilities.
In this connection, she also mentioned that up to 80 per cent of the wages of garment workers have been increased after consultation with the workers leaders and owners of the industries.
She, however, noted that despite the rapid flourishing of the RMG industries in Bangladesh, the wage structure of the RMG workers as well as the infrastructures are yet get full shape.
The prime minister underscored maintaining good relations among the owners and worker, saying that the workers should cooperate with and assist the owners. “Otherwise, the (RMG) sector will incur losses and the workers will lose their jobs.”
During the meeting, the members of the House of Lords and House of Commons highly appreciated Bangladesh’s progress and development in various sectors under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin, Lord Tarek Ahmed, Dr Charles Tanok MP, Jim Fitzpatrick, Jim Fishpetric, MP, Baroness Polauddin MP and Richard Fuller MP were, among others, present on the occasion.
-With The Independent input
