DHAKA, Nov 24, 2013- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated her call to the opposition leader to join the upcoming polls to initiate a democratic process through fair elections.
“I would like to tell the opposition leader to participate in the polls. If you have any doubt about the polls, give names of your lawmakers to be inducted into the current cabinet,” she said.
She added: “They will be given whatever ministries you want for them so that we can start a democratic process through fair polls. This process must be started from somewhere.”
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League chief, said this while presiding over a meeting of the party’s nomination seekers to contest the upcoming general election.
AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam delivered the welcome address, while Deputy Office Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das conducted the meeting at Ganobhaban here this afternoon.
The Prime Minister said elections were held in the last 38 years on an ad hoc basis. “But we want to hold the next election upholding the constitution and democracy to ensure a beautiful, disciplined and better life for the future generation which was a dream of lakhs of martyrs,” she said.
The Prime Minister said she had wanted to form an all-party poll-time government. “We have constituted that government and all parties except the BNP have joined it,” she said.
She expressed her firm optimism that the Election Commission would hold the coming polls in a free, fair and neutral manner. “The commission is fully independent, it is also independent economically,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said after announcement of the polls schedule, the responsibilities of all the ministries will remain under the commission. All transfers will be made through the commission and there will be no responsibilities of the ministries to this end.
Sheikh Hasina asked her party leaders and workers to be united to ensure victory of the Awami League in the upcoming polls to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous middle income country by completing the unfinished tasks.
“You will have to vote for ‘Boat’, the election symbol of the Awami League, closing your eyes. Whoever gets the nomination, you will have to work for him or her. You will have to see the symbol, there is no need to see the persons,” she said.
She said the government has been implementing the sixth five- year plan and undertaken a perspective plan from 2010-2021 to make Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2021.
On the other hand, she said, BNP-Jamaat has become united to ward off our development works. “The BNP-Jamaat does not want to retain the development we made. They do not want Bangladesh to be built with the spirit of the War of Liberation,” she said.
To achieve the goal of turning Bangladesh into a middle- income country, she said, the Awami League will have to be reelected by earning the trust and confidence of the people.
“But it will happen when all the party leaders and workers will remain united,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina also hinted at formation of an alliance like 2008 to contest the elections. “We are likely to contest the polls by forming an alliance like 2008 and some seats would be shared with its components and you will have to accept it in the greater interest,” she said.
Mentioning that the Awami League believes in people’s empowerment, the Prime Minister said all the elections held in the last five years of the present government were staged in a free, fair and neutral manner.
She said 5,803 polls in different tiers were held in the last five years and 64,023 public representatives were elected through the polls. None could raise any allegation about the polls, she said.
“We believe in free, fair polls and people’s empowerment. We don’t believe in the fake voter list which the BNP prepared in 2006,” she said.
She said a flawless voter list with photographs, transparent ballot box and fair elections are the main strength and main foundation of the people.
Pointing out the amendment to the constitution, the Prime Minister said her government has amended the constitution to ensure voting and democratic rights of the people so that none could come to power unconstitutionally.
“Through the amendment, we have restored the spirit of the Liberation War side by side with ensuring voting and democratic rights of the people,” she said.
Highlighting her government’s tremendous success in the fields of education, agriculture, health, economy, ICT, foreign policy, sports and power sector, the Prime Minister said the achievements have been possible as all ministries worked with utmost sincerity.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has been working round the clock for the last five years to ensure welfare of the people. As a result, she said, the country achieved tremendous development in various sectors.
She said due to various realistic steps of her government, the country maintained steady GDP growth during the last four years, despite global economic meltdown. The forex reserve has crossed 17 billion US dollars, while per capita income rose to 1044 US dollars.
The Prime Minister said the country’s image has been brightened abroad – Bangladesh is no more a safe haven of militancy and terrorism – rather it is now recognized as the role model of development on the world stage.
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