She says their all efforts to bring opposition to polls failed
Claiming that her government has done more than its election pledges in some areas, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday sought votes for ‘Boat’ in the January 5 election for the march forward of democracy and keeping up the pace of development.
“Let’s come up forgetting all the differences… we’ll march forward together towards peace, development, democracy and prosperity,” she said in her televised address to the nation ahead of the 10th general election to be held on Sunday.
State-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar simultaneously aired the 31-minute address. Other private TV channels and radio stations also broadcast it.
Emphasising that the empowerment of people is the first and foremost precondition to democracy, Hasina said people will cast their votes in a festive mood as they did in 5,803 local government and by-elections. “You will put democracy on a strong base by choosing your desired representatives,” the AL chief said.
She hoped that hatred and conflict will disappear from society for ever and Bangladesh will come out from the era of corruption and criminalisation, and thus a tolerant democratic system will get established.
Hasina further said, “The rights of people to form their desired had been snatched after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu and his family members on August 15, 1975.”
The Prime Minister said the election system had been put into question in the last 38 years through vote rigging, capturing and misuse of money and muscle power.
“Now parliament has adopted a permanent election system as practiced in other parliamentary democratic countries of the world to stop forever the unholy game of capturing power unconstitutionally and playing with people’s rights,” the PM said in her address.
Referring to the opposition BNP’s polls boycott, Hasina said her government had tried its level best to bring the BNP to the election. “Since 2010, I repeatedly called upon the BNP leader to come to the path of peaceful compromise through dialogue,” she said.
The premier also mentioned that she was ready to give any ministry, including the Home, to the opposition during the formation of the all-party election-time government.
“I phoned the opposition leader for holding dialogue… she (Khaleda) rejected the proposal of dialogue and chose the path of conflict. She gave me an ultimatum repeatedly instead,” she said.
In this connection, Hasina said she, as per the proposal of the BNP leader, initiated the dialogue at the general secretary level of the two major parties, and they held meetings several times.
“We had hoped that the main opposition would take part in the election keeping confidence in people, but BNP has not joined the election although we have tried cordially,” she added.
The AL President also said the opposition unleashed a reign of terror and destruction in the name of hartal and blockade programmes by holding the common people hostage. “They (opposition) are trying to deprive people of their voting rights.”
She categorically said the next election will be held on January 5 as per the constitution. “We took oath to uphold democracy as the elected government. That’s why the next election will be held on January 5 as per the constitution,” she said.
About her party’s next election pledges, Hasina said this time she wants to put emphasis on establishing good governance, democratisation and decentralisation of power.
“We want to establish peace, discipline and stability in the state and society through eradicating militancy, terrorism and communalism,” she said adding, “We want to ensure the security and basic rights of citizens.”
She said the aim of her government will be to put democratic institutions of the country on a stronger base to ensure good governance.
Sheikh Hasina also promised that accountability, transparency and responsibility of the MPs will be ensured inside and outside parliament and their personal life as well.
She said the independence and dignity of the judiciary will be upheld. “Activities will be strengthened for the equal use of law and human rights.”
The AL chief said they will put emphasis on decentralisation of power, aiming to create the scope for the grater participation of people in running the administration.
Hasina also said that the power, skill and efficacy of the Anti Corruption Commission will be strengthened further.
The AL President said the living standard of people will be upgraded and the prices of essentials will be kept under the commoners’ reach.
Talking about the election pledges that were given in 2008 election, she said that her party fulfilled those pledges with honesty and sincerity.
“Now we can strongly say that removing the darkness of the past, Bangladesh is now moving ahead to a prosperous future. And we’re all the passengers of that enlightened way.”
Source: UNB Connect
