Politics
BNP wants to destabilise country, not election
Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has accused the opposition party, BNP, of attempting to destabilize the country instead of wanting a fair election. Addressing a community event in Rome, where she attended the UN Food Summit, she emphasized that the election would be conducted in accordance with the constitution. She claimed that BNP is aware that the people will not vote for them due to their history of vote-rigging and violent activities, including arson and killing of innocent people.
The Prime Minister expressed her concern about the BNP’s intentions, asserting that they are not interested in the welfare of the people but rather aim to exploit the country’s instability for their benefit. She urged everyone to stand united against this “evil” force and safeguard Bangladesh from their disruptive plans. Emphasizing the need for her party, Awami League (AL), to remain in power, she sought votes for the ‘boat’ symbol in the upcoming general election, aiming to continue building a Smart Bangladesh.
Touching upon the recent imposition of sanctions on RAB officials and visa restrictions by the USA, she expressed bewilderment at the actions taken against those who have combated terrorism and militancy in the country. The Prime Minister warned against external forces attempting to interfere in Bangladesh’s affairs and stressed the importance of unity among the people.
Furthermore, she urged Bangladeshi expatriates to send remittances through legal channels and encouraged foreign investment, particularly in the ICT, food processing, and small industries sectors. She also advised expatriates to abide by the laws of their host countries and discouraged illegal migration for overseas job opportunities.
Highlighting the importance of agriculture amid the global situation, Sheikh Hasina urged families and relatives in Bangladesh to utilize all available land for food production. She also highlighted her government’s efforts to improve the food storage system.
The Prime Minister proudly showcased her government’s achievements in various sectors and the significant progress made by the country since 2009.
Lawmakers from the Awami League and independent candidates elected in the January 7 polls took their oath as members of the parliament today. The ceremony, administered by the 11th Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, commenced at 10:30 am in the Parliament Complex’s Oath Room.
Speaker Chaudhury, along with independent parliament members, took oath earlier, with Jatiya Party and other faction MPs following suit at 12 pm. The constitution mandates newly elected MPs to take the oath within three days of election results being published in an official gazette, as per Article 148 (2A). A gazette notification on the 12th National Elections’ results, detailing 298 newly elected members, was issued on Tuesday. The new cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in at Bangabhaban at 7 pm on Thursday (January 11).
The Awami League secured 222 out of 298 seats, with independent candidates, mostly aligned with AL, winning 62 seats. Jatiyo Party and single candidates from other parties also claimed victories. After the oath, the AL parliamentary party will elect Sheikh Hasina as their leader, paving the way for her fifth term as prime minister. The president will administer the oath to the new prime minister, who will then form a cabinet with ministers and state ministers chosen by her.
The Awami League (AL) is gearing up to celebrate its victory in the national polls with a rally in Dhaka. Scheduled for January 10 at Suhrawardy Udyan, the event coincides with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Homecoming Day, as announced by Obaidul Quader, the party’s general secretary, during a press conference at the Dhaka District Awami League office in Tejgaon on Monday afternoon.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League, is set to lead the rally, commencing at 2:30 pm. The Awami League secured an overwhelming majority in the parliamentary elections, winning 223 out of 299 seats. This decisive victory paves the way for Prime Minister Hasina’s fourth consecutive term and her fifth term in total. The rally at Suhrawardy Udyan serves as a platform for the Awami League to celebrate its triumph and rally support.
On Friday, Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen stated that if the United States’ statements about the visa policy are accurate, then the policy should be applied to BNP leaders as they aim to disrupt the election. The foreign minister made these comments after a meeting with a US observer team at his residence in Sylhet in the evening.
He mentioned that BNP’s current popularity in the country has declined, and they have chosen the path of terrorism. He added that the people of the country are not concerned about Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment, and the party is suffering due to the immaturity of its leadership.
In response to a question, the minister mentioned that 227 observers and journalists from various countries worldwide would come to monitor the upcoming election. He noted that members of the US observer team did not provide comments on the election; instead, they were gathering information. The US team included Geoffrey McDonald, Senior Advisor, Asia Pacific, IRI, Amitab Ghosh, Senior Program Manager, IRI, and David Hogstra, Program Manager, IRI.
