DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her electoral speech to the nation sought vote again for her party’s election symbol ‘boat’ in the January 5 national elections.

She however said in spite of repeated requests, the opposition BNP decided not to participate in the upcoming 10th general elections.

Seeking unequivocal support of the countrymen as they did in the past, Awami League president, also Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina categorically said that her party fulfilled pledges of 2008 election with honesty and sincerity, and wanted to put emphasis on establishing good governance, democratization and decentralization of power next.

She came up with the observations Thursday in her 32-minute speech before the nation through BTV and Bangladesh Betar ahead of the 10th National Election of January 5.

Sheikh Hasina said, “Let us all move forward to the path of peace, development, democracy and prosperity by forgetting all differences to build Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

Giving a brief narrative about the development done by her government over last five years, she said Awami League would be able to turn Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041 if her party is voted to power again.

Claiming that her government has done more than its election pledges, the AL chief also added: “Boat is the symbol of Haque-Bhashani-Suhrawardhy and it is also the symbol of independence and freedom. We want your votes in favour of the symbol of Boat.”

Sheikh Hasina said, “Since 2010, time and again we have invited BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to participate in talks for a peaceful consensus. We were ready to give them home ministry in the polls-time interim government. I myself called her over the telephone and requested to sit for talks. But she chose the path of violence instead of peace.”

In her speech she also said: “General Secretary of our party hold meeting with the Secretary General of her party, after her proposal. We hoped she would participate in the national elections keeping faith on the people. But inspite of our trying, BNP did not participate in the election.”

The Premier also said: “People’s empowerment is the mainstay of democracy. People can form their government which was snatched away from them by killing the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975.”

A permanent measure was taken like other democratic countries of the world to stop the unhealthy practice of playing underhandedly with the rights of the people so that no undemocratic power can assume power.”

Sheikh Hasina forcefully said that the elcction will be held under an independent Election Commission (EC), not under any non-elected person.”

She also alleged that opposition, in the name of blockade and hartal, caused panic and terrorism in the country by kepping people as hostage. They have set fire to Baitul Mukarram (National Mosque) and burnt Holy Quran. They also have burnt people to death. Law enforcers as well as Awami League leaders and activists were their target.”

She also said: “They have tried to snatch away people’s right to vote by cutting roads, displacing fish plates of rail tracks and cutting a large amount of trees and spreading the logs over roads.”

“We had taken oath to continue the democracy in the country and this is why the general elections will be held on January 5,” she added.

Prime Minister also told about some of her government’s achievements including production of 10,000MW electricity, inaugurating Hatir Jheel project and a few flyovers including 11.8 km long Mayor Hanif Flyover, distributing textbooks freely among the primary and secondary level students across the country, raising RMG workers’ salary to Tk 5,300 from 1600, reducing the rate of poor people to less than 26 percent from 41.5 percent, setting up 16,299 community clinics, creating jobs for one crore people, distributing manures freely to 16 lakhs of farmers and various benefits given to the freedom fighters and in the education sector.

Sheikh Hasina started her speech by paying respect to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four national leaders, and all the freedom fighters killed during the liberation war in 1971.

BDST: 2040 HRS, JAN 02, 2014
Edited By: Shameem Reza, Newsroom Editor/ Abul Kalam Azad, Senior Newsroom Editor