Avoid conflict, work peacefully for participation of voters in election: PM Sheikh Hasina urges candidates

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called for maintaining peace during campaign for the upcoming January 7 national election with a warning that even her own party members won’t be spared if found involved in any conflict.

“Don’t interfere in another’s rights. In case of any conflict, even if men from my party get engaged in it, they won’t be spared. I will take proper action against them. Keep it in mind,” she said.

Hasina, the president of ruling Awami League, sounded the strong warning while addressing the rallies in five districts --Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Natore, Pabna and Khagracchari – through a virtual platform from Awami League Office at Tejgaon in the city.

She said the people will cast their votes in the 12th parliamentary election as it is their constitutional right. “We want the people to exercise their voting rights freely. They can pick and vote for whoever they want. The person who gets their votes will become the winner,” she said.

The AL President said it will have to strengthen the democracy further. Otherwise, the development Bangladesh so far has witnessed will be spoiled.

Pointing at AL’s rival candidates, she said, “Yes, we opened the election (for its rival candidates). There are candidates with 'boat' symbol, independent contenders and contestants from other parties in the race. Everyone should go to the people. The candidates who get votes would be elected.”

The premier sought votes for her party’s electoral symbol ‘boat’ in the election saying that the people had gained the independence of the country in 1971 by voting for this symbol. Now the people have got economic emancipation and Bangladesh gained the status of a developing nation by voting for boat.

“If we want to continue the development trend, it is the Awami League who will have to ensure the welfare of the people by forming the government,” she said.

The PM asked all the candidates and their supporters to run in the election peacefully so that none can raise any allegation regarding the polls and voters turn up in big numbers at the polling stations.

“There must be participation of the people and voters in the election. It doesn’t matter which party joins or does not join the election. BNP doesn’t join the election for one reason and there is no scope of vote-rigging here,” she said.

Since BNP failed to do so (rig votes) in 2008, they now always want to thwart and boycott the election. It is their wish and it is the matter of their respective party, she said.

“Run in the election in a fair manner. All (candidates) should carry out campaigns freely and let the people vote for and pick the candidates of their choice. So, our democracy will be strengthened further,” said Hasina, who is seeking to bring her party to power for the fourth consecutive term.

The AL president extended her thanks to all who joined the national election.

She said the people ousted BNP leader Khaleda Zia from the power on charge of vote-rigging in 1996 and then she again tried to steal votes in 2006 by enrolling some 1.23 crore fake voters in the voter list.

“Now it is very unfortunate that we’re to hear the words (lessons) of democracy and fair votes from those who were driven out on two occasions on charge of vote-rigging,” she said, adding that It is Awami League that had given back the voting rights to the people.

“In this upcoming election, all of you will have to be careful so that none can harm the people by resorting to terrorism and militancy. I would like to urge all to be vigilant in this regard,” said the PM.

PM Hasina questioned how BNP could join the election (now) as the BNP-led 20-party alliance secured only 30 seats (out of 300), while Awami League alone got 233 seats in the 2008 general election which was not questioned by anyone.

“Everyone who is now saying big words will have to keep it in mind. What do they understand about voting?” she said, adding that the BNP was born in the pocket of a (army) general who grabbed power illegally violating the constitution and the army laws.

Talking about the recent violence including attacks on trains, the premier said BNP has again started unleashing arson violence as they did the same thing in 2013 and 2014. “They feel mentally upset seeing the people remain in peace,” she added.

Not mentioning the name of BNP leader Tarique Rahman, the PM said there is a black sheep who had opened Hawa Bhaban in 2001 to resort to corruption and at that time none could run business without giving him bribes.

She said the person (Tarique) went to London giving the caretaker government a bond that he would no longer do politics but now he is giving orders to thwart the election, staying there.

“The country will have to be saved from their hands,” she said, adding that BNP is a terrorist and militant organisation.

Focusing on her government’s success in ensuring the progress of the country, Hasina said Bangladesh has changed radically in the last 15 years. There is no famine (Monga) seen in the north Bengal. Every district has got a touch of development, she said.

“The entire Bangladesh witnessed a touch of development,” said the prime minister.

Besides, she highlighted construction of 560 model mosques throughout the country, introduction of universal pension scheme, expansion of social safety net, food programmes, turning Bangladesh digital, employment generation, improvement of connectivity, providing landless and homeless families with free abodes under Ashrayan project and providing agricultural inputs and materials at subsidized prices.

The PM said now the government’s goal is to transform the country into a Smart Bangladesh. “We want to ensure balanced development for all irrespective of the rich and the poor,” she said.