Vote for boat again on Jan 7

UNB :
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Thursday made an impassioned appeal to the people to return her party to power for a straight fourth term by casting votes in Sunday’s general election.

“Today I’ve appeared before you to ask for votes in favour of the symbol, boat,” she said in a televised address to the nation, her final campaign speech before the January 7 national election to form the country’s 12th parliament. The speech was aired at 7 pm.

“The call has come, it’s time to take the road”, Hasina said quoting from poet Sunkanta Bhattacharya’s poem, Udayachal (From the east).

In her over 24 minute speech the prime mister said she is seeking another five-year term in office to make the development sustainable, work for improving people’s living standard and build a developed smart Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty.

Hasina said during her Awami League government’s three consecutive terms (2009-2023) the country has witnessed the continuation of a “democratic trend and stability” in the process of building a people’s welfare-oriented society based on “equality and justice.”

“If we can form the government again by getting your valuable votes we will be able to continue with the implementation of the programmes taken by us,” she said adding that this will give “us an opportunity to further improve your living condition.”

Hasina thanked people of the country for giving her Awami League an opportunity to serve them by voting for the boat symbol in the past.

She also said whatever she has achieved in this long journey “would not have been possible without your support,” she said.

“If I have made any mistakes along the way, my request to you is to look at the matter in the eyes of forgiveness.

If I can form the government again, I will get a chance to correct the mistakes. Give me an opportunity to serve you by voting for the ‘boat’ in the January 7 election,” she said.

She requested the people to keep confidence on her as she considers them as her family.

“Let’s all make this Bangladesh a smart Golden Bangla and fulfill the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she appealed to the people.

The PM urged all political parties and institutions that believe in democracy and the rule of law not to pamper and fuel any idiosyncratic ideas that will disrupt the constitutional process of the country.

The ruling party chief said that her party is expecting a free, fair and impartial election on January 7.

In this connection, she said that this is the first time in Bangladesh that the Election Commission has been formed under a law passed by the parliament.

“The Election Commission has been given financial independence. The administration and law enforcement agencies are now placed under the Election Commission,” she said.

The prime minister also said that the EC is conducting the election independently.

“Our government is giving all kinds of support to the Election Commission for conducting fair and peaceful elections,” she said.

She mentioned the Awami League is party of the mass people and whenever it comes to power it ensures economic and social development of the country.

The government has ensured food, safety, health services, housing, education, and employment to the people besides making massive infrastructure development, she said.

Talking about her party’s election manifesto, Hasina mentioned listed 12 priorities for the socio-economic development of the country.
These are:
1. To protect and promote the practice of democratic system at all levels.
2. Making every effort to keep prices within the purchasing power of all.
3. Ensuring employability education and youth employment.
4. Building smart Bangladesh based on modern technology.
5. Mechanization of integrated agricultural system and taking measures to preserve the produce with the aim of increasing production.
6. Development of agricultural products and food processing industries.
7. To create employment opportunities by developing infrastructure and industries up to the village level.
8. To increase efficiency and capacity of bank insurance and financial sector.
9. Making health services affordable to low income people.