Shawdesh Desk:

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday, referring to her party’s assumption of power through 2014 and 2018 elections, said that the Bangladesh Awami League never came to power in undemocratic way.

Also the AL president, the prime minister reiterated her firm conviction that the people of Bangladesh would cast vote independently in the next general elections.

‘The election commission (EC) may announce the election date and time (general election schedule) in one or two days—the people will cast their votes freely,’ she said.

The premier said this while virtually inaugurating and laying foundation stone of 10,041 structures under 157 development projects including Sheikh Hasina Swarani (Purbachal Expressway) and first elevated expressway in Chattogram with around one lac crore from her official Ganabhaban residence here.

Under the projects, 4,644 are various development infrastructures and 5397 houses for the landless and homeless people under the Ashrayan-2 project across the country under 24 ministries and divisions.

She said that the Awami League never comes to power by undemocratic way, referring to the assumption of power through 2014 and 2018 elections.

The PM also thanked the people for voting her party to power time and again and thus giving the chance to serve the nation.

She said that the BNP-Jamaat alliance did not want to take part in the election rather to create an unstable situation in the country by carrying out arson violence to land people in sufferings.

She also said that her government had taken all measures including enacting new law to make the election free and fair.

She said, ‘We have ensured the voting rights of the people through struggle.’

Sheikh Hasina also said that the election commission introduced transparent ballot boxes and prepared voter list with photographs following the proposals of the Awami League.

‘They (the BNP-Jamaat alliance) got only 30 seats (in 2008 general election which was accepted by all). Then, you say, will they be interested in participate in the next election,’ she said.

The prime minister said that they had no intention to be in the next election rather they are out to foil the polls.

‘They are trying to leave the people in suffering foiling the election by creating anarchic situation,’ she said.

She continued that the BNP-Jamaat had started unleashing arson terrorism by setting fire to vehicles when the people are living in peace and comfort and the country’s development have been progressing at full speed.

The PM reiterated her call to the countrymen to prevent arson terrorists, saying good sense should come to the arsonists and they must have to leave arson terrorism.

‘I would say that may good sense come to the arson attackers, and they have to stop the destructive activities and arson attacks,’ she said.

‘We’re still seeing the suffering of those who were burnt at the arson attacks in 2013 and 2014. So, we don’t want people to suffer again,’ she said

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Md. Tazul Islam, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque and Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder were present on the dais.

Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah conducted the event.

Sheikh Hasina heavily criticised the BNP-Jamaat clique as school and college students can’t attend their final exams for the arson violence in the name of movement to dislodge the government.

The prime minister said that the literacy rate was 45 per cent during the BNP regime while the rate now stood at 76.6 per cent.

About inauguration of the 157 development schemes across the country, she said the inaugural programme was held today aimed at opening of all the development schemes completed by the Awami League government.

She continued that the previous AL government during 1996-2001 tenure had done many development schemes including Gabkhan Bridge and Dhorola Bridge, but could not open many of those.

She said that her party could not come to power through 2001 election despite getting maximum votes due to local and foreign conspiracies as she refused to sell gas.

Within one month of coming to power in 2001, Khaleda Zia opened Gabkhan Bridge over a big river which was built by the Awami League government, she added.

At the opening ceremony of the Bridge, Khaleda told that the Awami League government did not commit any development, the premier said, adding, ‘It seemed that she (Khaleda) built the Gabkhan Bridge over a big river within a month.’

Then BNP-Jamaat alliance government had turned Bangladesh into a country of terrorism, militancy and corruption by making Bangla Bhai-like militants and making Bangladesh champion in corruption for five times.

‘BNP had only been able to make Bangladesh champion in corruption for five times,’ she said.

The prime minister said that the massive socio-economic development of Bangladesh had been carried out by her government in the last 15 years confronting man-made and natural disasters.

Bangladesh has now been considered as a model of development as the country has got the status of a developing nation in 2021 during the twin celebrations of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation and golden jubilee of the country’s independence.

The prime minister said that her government had made Bangladesh Digital and was now working to transform it into a developed, prosperous and a smart country by 2041.

‘We have been working to fulfill the target with formulating specific plans,’ she said.

The prime minister said that they had been able to fulfil the 2018 electoral pledges by 2021 as they have accomplished development works with formulating specific plans.

‘My target is to establish a dignified Bangladesh by materializing the dream of the Father of the Nation,’ she said.