Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on Saturday, asserted that her government will arrange an election, where the people’s verdict would be reflected. She also said no elections, like the ones held at Magura and on February 15, 1996, will be held in the country again. “He/she for whom the people cast their votes will form the next government. We will arrange such an election. No Magura-style election will be allowed in the country anymore,” she declared.
Sheikh Hasina, who is also the president of the ruling Awami League (AL), was addressing a meeting for exchanging views with the party’s grassroots leaders from Kishoreganj district, at her Ganobhaban residence.
She said the government has already upheld the voting, constitutional and democratic rights of the people, and would ensure these. “We want to ensure, at the least, the system that will uphold the people’s voting and constitutional rights,” she added.
The Premier renewed her call to the leader of the Opposition to join Parliament and say whatever she wants there. “Return to Parliament and place whatever you want there. But, don’t unleash violent activities such as killing people, torching and vandalising public and private properties,” she added.
She accused opposition leader Khaleda Zia of killing people and trying to save war criminals, in the name of enforcing hartals. “Actually, the opposition leader enforces programmes like hartals to snatch away the livelihoods of the poor,” she added.
Referring to the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the opposition leader on May 4, the Prime Minister said she had offered to hold a dialogue with Khaleda, to resolve the country’s prevailing political impasse. “But the opposition leader rejected the dialogue offer and, instead, issued the 48-hour ultimatum to oust the government. But, her evil attempt did not eventually succeed,” she said.
Criticising the opposition leader’s call urging people to stand beside the Hefazat-e-Islam activists on May 5, Hasina said, “I want to ask the opposition leader as to how many people responded to your call. Even your party leaders and workers did not respond to your call,” she said.
Hasina said over 5,600 elections, including Jatiya Sangsad by-polls and local government elections, have been held in the last four-and-a-half years, under the supervision of the present government, in a free, fair and credible manner.
“No one could raise any questions about the polls as elections in the style of the Magura and 15th February polls cannot be staged,” she said.
Mentioning that the Election Commission (EC) is now completely independent, Sheikh Hasina said the EC was formed for the first time through a search committee, after holding discussions.
Hasina also said the present government has strengthened parliamentary democracy and amended the Constitution, so that no one can play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people, by violating the Constitution.
She pointed out that after assuming office, her government had restored peace in the country by curbing militancy and terrorism with an iron hand. Besides ensuring peace, she added that the government has carried out massive development in the country.
Hasina mentioned her government’s tremendous successes in the fields of agriculture, education, economy, health, information technology, food security and women’s empowerment. “When the Awami League comes to power, the people get something, but when the BNP comes to power, the people get nothing, except terrorism, militancy and corruption,” she said.
She also urged the party leaders and workers to project the successes of the government, before the people, while strengthening the organisations at the grassroots level. “You will have to work for the welfare of the people by further strengthening the organisation,” she said.
AL general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, PM’s adviser Dr Alauddin Ahmed, joint secretary Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif, organising secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and others were present at the meeting. AL organising secretary Ahmad Hossain conducted the views-exchange meeting, which was convened as part of a series of views-exchange meetings with the grassroots-level leaders and workers that was initiated by the ruling Awami League at the end of 2011.
The office-bearers of the Kishoreganj district unit of the AL, national committee members, lawmakers of the party, administrator of the Kishoreganj district council, presidents and general secretaries of upazila, thana, union and municipal units and upazila chairmen and vice-chairmen of the party, mayors and councillors of municipalities, chairmen of the union councils and presidents, and general secretaries of the associate and like-minded bodies of the Awami League district unit were also present at the meeting.
-With The Independent input
