DHAKA, Dec 27, 2018 (BSS) – Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said opposition BNP appeared to have sensed their defeat in the December 30 elections which could led them to sabotage the polls.
“Remain careful about any subversive activity of BNP and their cohorts,” Sheikh Hasina said, wrapping up the election campaign for her Awami League and the ruling party-led Grand Alliance as she addressed four election rallies outside through video conferencing.
Addressing the rallies in Cumilla, Jessore, Tangail, Pabna and Panchagarh from her private Sudha Sadan residence this afternoon she particularly asked party leaders and activists to enforce a vigil against possible opposition actions to upset the polls.
“They (BNP) could carry out attack on Awami League leaders and workers as well),” she said adding that the party by now killed five Awami League leaders, injured 441 (Correction), attacked 170 election offices and houses and exploded bombs in 54 places.
The Awami League president asked her party leaders and activists to inform the law enforcement agencies about any subversive activity but simultaneously asked them not to obstruct BNP in carrying out its election campaigns.
“We want every political party to contest in the election. It’s their right and people will give vote according to their choice . . . so every political party should conduct their election campaign freely and fairly,” Sheikh Hasina said.
Sheikh Hasina expressed her firm conviction that people of Bangladesh would give verdict in favour of her party saying “the people would cast votes for ‘boat’ to ensure victory of pro-liberation forces”.
She said BNP needed to change its character before seeking people’s mandate to come to power and “they (BNP) must stop killing, terrorism and support to militancy”.
Earlier, the prime minister introduced the candidates to the people of the respective districts and urged them to elect them in the December 30 elections.
Before PM’s speech a video documentary on the development of each respective area taken by her government over the last ten years and election pledges of Awami League for the 11th Jatiya Sangsad election was presented before the audiences on big screens.
Addressing the election rally in Cumilla the prime minister said her party has embarked on building a prosperous country for future generation.
She hoped that people would bring another victory for ‘boat’ on December 30 which will strengthen the pro-liberation forces and implement the vision.
Sheikh Hasina said her party always sincerely implemented the promises which it had made before the election. All thirteen upazilas of Cumilla are now under the full electricity coverage, she said adding that continuation of a government helps accelerating pace of development and people enjoy its benefit, she said.
Awami League president introduced candidates of 11 constituencies of Cumilla. They are- Subid Ali Bhuiyan (Cumilla 1), Selima Ahmed (Cumilla 2), Yusuf Abdullah Harun (Cumilla 3), Rajib Md. Fakrul (Cumilla 4), Abdul Matin Khasru (Cumilla 5), AKM Bahauddin (Cumilla 6), Prof. Md. Ali Ashraf (Cumilla 7), Nasimul Alam Chowdhury (Cumilla 8), Md. Tajul Islam (Cumilla 9), ANH Mostafa Kamal (Cumilla 10) and Md. Mujibul Haque (Cumilla 11).
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh will be able to attract huge foreign investment when a peaceful election would be held. However, BNP-Jamaat is out to destroy the peaceful atmosphere and push the country to an anarchic situation like 2014 and 2015.
Addressing the rally in Jessore the prime minister said if re-elected her government would envisage to reduce poverty by four to five percent in the next five years. People of Bangladesh is now confident of building Bangladesh as a prosperous nation as dreamt by Bangabandhu under the leadership of Awami League, she said.
Hi-tech park, land port and rail link with the Padma Bridge up to Mongla Port are being constructed in Jessore while the existing road is being turned into four lanes.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned BNP’s torture on minorities since 2001 election saying they burnt and looted their houses and destroyed property. Law enforcement agencies strictly handled the mayhem, she said adding that the people don’t expect return of those days again.
She also introduced the Awami League candidates in six constituencies of Jessore. They are- Sheikh Afil Uddin (Jessore 1), Md. Nasir Uddin (Jessore), Kazi Nabil Ahmed (Jessore 3), Ranjit Kumar Roy (Jessore 4), Swapan Bhattachariya (Jessore 5) and Ismat Ara Sadek (Jessore 6).
The prime minister urged the countrymen to reelect the Awami League to keep up the country’s development spree and serve the people again.
“We’ve already executed many projects in the country while many mega projects are under implementation,” she said calling upon the countrymen to continue the pace of development uplift.
Highlighting her government’s successes in various fields, the AL chief said her party implemented its election manifestos when the AL came to power.
This year’s election manifesto has given utmost importance to the youths as they are the country’s strength and they will bring prosperity for Bangladesh, she said.
The prime minister the nation will celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu in 2020 and the golden jubilee of independence in 2021. She hoped pro-liberation force would remain in power when the two auspicious occasions would be celebrated, she said.
“We want to celebrate the two occasions with much festivity by establishing Bangladesh a hunger and poverty-free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu,” she said.
While addressing election rally in Tangail, Pabna and Panchagarh the prime minister also introduced the candidates of Awami League.
The candidates of seven constituencies of Tangail are- Md. Abdur Razzak (Tangail 1), Tanvir Hasan (Tangail 2), Ataur Rahman Khan (Tangail 3), Md. HAsan Imam Khan (Tangail 4), Ahsanul Islam (Tangail 6), Ekabbor Hossain (Tangail 7) and Md. Zoaherul Islam (Tangail 8). Awami League has left Tangail 5 for grand alliance partner Jatiya Party.
Candidates of six constituencies in Pabna are- Shamsul Haq Tuku (Pabna 1), Ahmed Firoz Kabir (Pabna 2), Mokbul Hossain (Pabna 3), Shamsur Rahman Khan (Tangail 4) and Golam Hossain Prince (Tangail 5).
Two candidates in Panchagarh are- Mazharul Haque Pradhan (Panchagarh 1) and Nurul Islam Sujan (Panchagarh 2).
Later, the prime minister addressed the people of her own Kotalipara constituency of Gopalgonj district over phone.