PM hopes for an all party election

The Prime Minister said her government has been working relentlessly to further strengthen democracy. "We want to further strengthen democracy and our stride has been reflected in the all elections held during the last five years of our tenure, " she said. Sheikh Hasina mentioned that 5,828 elections were held in different tiers in the last five years and 64,060 public representatives were elected through the polls. All the elections were held in a free, fair and neutral manner, and none could raise any allegation about the results, she said. The Prime Minister said the all democratic institutions including Election Commission, the National Human Rights Commission and Information Commission are absolutely independent, while media is enjoying full freedom.
Sheikh Hasina urged the US government to pursue its business community to hike the prices of Bangladeshi garment products. "It would help facilitate the Bangladeshi garment owners to increase wages, " she said. Mentioning raising the wages for the garment workers to Taka 5300 from 1600 in the last five years, she said: "Our party, politics and ideology are for the downtrodden and we are striving to improve the condition of poor people." "That's why we pursued the garment owners to raise wages for the workers," she added.
Pointing out the much-talked TICFA agreement with the USA, the Prime Minister said the deal has already been okayed. A delegation from Bangladesh would visit the USA soon to this end, she said. Highlighting her government's various steps for developing the country further, the Prime Minister said: "My only aim is to ensure welfare of the people." She stated that poverty has declined to a great extent in the last five years, while the country has maintained over six percent GDP growth thanks to various pragmatic steps of the government.
The US Assistant Secretary of State expressed the hope that free, fair and credible elections would be held in Bangladesh to continue democratic process. She said Bangladesh is a very important country in the region for mutual prosperity and security, saying that the US- Bangladesh partnership is extraordinarily strong and productive. Nisha Deshai said the trade in the South-East and South Asian region is very important for both the countries as Bangladesh is playing a key role when the global transformation is taking place.
Ambassador-At- Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary Shaikh Mohammad Wahid-uz-Zaman and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena were present at the meeting, among others.

Source: BSS