Speaking at an election rally in Kalabagan, the capital city, on Monday (Jan 1), Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and President of the Awami League, affirmed the party’s commitment to genuine public service amid the ongoing democratic processes in the country. Stressing the Awami League’s dedication to securing votes through authentic connections with the people, she dismissed the need for engaging in vote theft. Sheikh Hasina pointed out that those unlawfully coming to power not only resort to vote theft but also seek to obstruct the electoral process.
Highlighting the Awami League’s history of service to the country’s people since 1975, Sheikh Hasina emphasized shaping the nation’s destiny through dedicated efforts without compromising the well-being of the citizens. In a critical tone, she accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of inflicting suffering on the country akin to invaders post-2001, attributing the imposition of an emergency in the country to their misrule.
Addressing BNP’s reluctance to participate in elections without the option of vote theft, Sheikh Hasina asserted that elections are a fundamental right of the people, and BNP lacks the courage to obstruct it. Urging vigilance among the public, she cautioned that BNP’s actions could potentially harm the nation.
Commenting on BNP’s alleged plans to disrupt voting through arson, Sheikh Hasina called for responding through democratic means and emphasized that all disruptions caused by BNP and Jamaat should be addressed through the power of voting. Making an appeal for votes symbolized by a boat, the electoral symbol of the Awami League, she highlighted promises of development in 15 constituencies of Dhaka and urged voters to support the boat for the envisioned ‘Smart Bangladesh’.
