Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today called upon the countrymen to be cautious so that BNP cannot thwart the upcoming national election through any evil move, saying the election will be held on time and the people will exercise their voting rights freely.
“Election will be held in this country at any cost, and people will cast their votes freely,” she said. The premier said this while addressing a grand rally organized by the AL Dhaka North City at Civil Aviation Field in the capital city’s Kawla area.
She said, “They (BNP) know it very well that if there is an election, votes will be casted for ‘Boat’, AL will come in the power, development of the country will be expedited further, and that is why BNP wants to foil the election and snatch away the voting rights of the people.”
Mentioning that BNP is in dilemma whether they will participate in the next election, the AL chief questioned, “It is natural. Who is their leader to participate in the election? Who will be their Prime Minister? Is that the corrupt absconding criminal or the embezzler of orphans’ money?”
In this regard, she alleged that BNP is trying to foil the next general election for this reason. “I will request all of you (the countrymen) to remain vigilant so they (BNP) cannot do that,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina said that if the looters, corrupt, killers, dacoits and thieves like the BNP come to power they will just destroy the country. “Let them not destroy the country.”
“Only the symbol ‘Boat’ can pull the country ahead,” she said, urging the countrymen to cast their votes in favour of Boat in the next election.
The premier said if the people cast their votes in favour of Boat, then she will be in power otherwise not. “But I will continue my work for the welfare of the people,” she added.
She said the Boat is an electoral symbol, which has given independence, development, electricity to each house, solved the water crisis, eased communication, arranged employments, created 100 special economic zones and many more. “The only symbol is Boat, and if it remains in power, all development programmes along with other works will be materialized in the country.”
She requested all to vote in favour of Boat to give Awami League a chance for serving the people of the country again, saying: “If you want development then vote for Boat, if you want destruction then go for BNP-Jamaat.”
Regarding the BNP’s move to go to the foreigners, the AL chief categorically said that this move will not bring any result. “Power of the people is the best power, I believe in the power of the people, I have faith and trust in the people,” she added.
AL general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, AL presidium members agriculture minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint secretary and information and broadcasting minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, joint secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organizing secretary Mirza Azam, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam, local lawmaker (Dhaka-18) Habib Hasan, Awami Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, member of the parliament from Dhaka-17 constituency Mohammad Ali Arafat, and AL Dhaka South City President Abu Ahmed Mannafi also spoke.
With AL Dhaka North City President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman in the chair, its General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi moderated the rally.
Leaders and activists of AL along with its front and associated bodies wearing T-shirts and caps of different colors with colorful banners, festoons, and placards from the morning thronged the rally ground, which eventually turned into a human sea, to hear Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The rally was supposed to take place on October 7 on the occasion of the soft opening of the Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, but it was rescheduled due to inclement weather.
