Staff Reporter :
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that none can now say that the votes were cast at night instead of daytime in 12th parliamentary polls or votes were rigged.
“None has the rights to say anything that the votes were rigged because the election was held in very transparent, free and neutral manners,” she said while addressing a rally marking the historic homecoming day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after the 1971 Liberation War at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.
On January 10, 1972 Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh, returned to independent Bangladesh via London and New Delhi after 290 days of confinement in Pakistan jail during the country’s Liberation War. The AL observes the day as homecoming day.
Bangladesh Awami League arranged the rally in observance of the historic homecoming day.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, its presidium members Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Qamrul Islam, among others, spoke at the rally.
Besides, AL Presidium Member Faruk Khan, Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Shajahan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak MP, Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif MP, AFM Bahauddin Nasim MP, among other leaders, were present at the rally.
AL Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap was moderating the programme.
Obaidul Quader on behalf of Awami League greeted Sheikh Hasina with flowers as she is going to be the five-time prime minister through Awami League’s landslide victory in the January 7 general election.
Sheikh Hasina said that from now on none can hinder the country’s advancement as her party is resuming power again following its landslide victory in the January 7 general election.
“As Awami League has come to power again, no one can disrupt the current progress of Bangladesh anymore,” she said Sheikh Hasina, who presided over the program, said many wanted to stop this election, but failed.
“The voter turnout is 41.8 percent in this election even after there were attempts to prevent the voters from casting their votes, which is a very big matter,” she said, adding that a particular party was trying to resist the election when AL and its like-minded parties joined it.
She welcomed the people for voting Awami League again by going to polling centers amid fear of terrorist and arson attack and life threat.
She said none can question the 12th parliamentary election as it was held in fair, free and neutral manners. “We have not interfered in the elections.
The law enforcement agencies and administrations were under the Election Commission during the election. All of the authorities have assisted the EC duly.”
“BNP has not come to power following the path of democracy. Coming to power, it had taken the path of killing people.
They have again taken the same path of killing people to obstruct the election,” he added.
The Prime Minister said, “We have come here to change the life of the people. The democratic system has been strengthened.
Due to continuous democratic ruling, the country has experienced immense development.
The country is moving forward in all sectors. But, some people have been opposing it as they don’t like the development of the country.”
“They feel better if there is an unelected government in the power. I am grateful to the people as they have given us votes to continue the democratic system again. They have given us support,” she added.
The rally began at the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan at around 3:30pm. AL President Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.
A large stage was constructed on the east side of the lake in Suhrawardy Udyan for the rally. Party activists started gathering at Suhrawardy Udyan from 12pm to participate in the rally.
Apart from Dhaka, leaders and activists from outside the capital also joined the programme.
