Awami League (AL) President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the people to vote for her party’s election symbol “boat” to build “smart Bangladesh” as she kicked off formal election campaign of the AL for the 12th national parliamentary election slated for January 7.
“Smart Bangladesh means Smart Government, Smart People, Smart Economy and Smart Society… with these, we will make Bangladesh a modern technology-based Bangladesh that would include sustainable economy, merit-based education, advanced society, righteous Bangladesh and transparent Bangladesh,” she said.
The premier said these while addressing a mammoth rally at Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa Ground organised by local Awami League.
The Awami League president urged all to cast their votes for her party nominated candidates to make them victorious just to serve the common people.
“Will you cast your votes for them? Please raise your hands and promise to me,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina launched the election campaign from Sylhet-1 constituency following the tradition and offering Ziarat at shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) here.
Bangabandhu’s younger daughter and the premier’s younger sister Sheikh Rehana accompanied her during the Ziarat and she was also present on the dais in rally.
The Awami League (AL) president alleged that looters, killers, corrupts and embezzlers of orphans’ money are out there to foil the election by burning people alive.
She urged the countrymen to resist arson terrorism and burning people alive.
She said that BNP-Jamaat clique wanted to snatch away lives of people, they will not let people to cast their votes and thwart the polls .
“From where they get such courage…,” she questioned, saying there is a “black-sheep” sitting in London gives order and some people are following the directives here and are playing with fire. If they play with fire, their own hands will be burnt ,” she said.
The chief of ruling AL said that BNP-Jamaat nexus thought that the government would be ousted through arson terrorism .
“They thought that with some incidents of arson attacks the government will be toppled . The thing is not so easy,” she added.
She said that the mass people are getting benefits of the result of Awami League as it is in power.
“Our aim is to build poverty-free developed Golden Bangla and for that purpose I am working relentlessly,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina mentioned that she has nothing to lose, as she has lost everything including her father, mother and brothers.
“My lone younger sister and I lost everything and deprived of my small children from their motherly affection as I had to return home in 1981 Just to fulfil my father’s dream of building the country with the spirit of the Great Liberation War,” she added.
Highlighting different development projects implemented by the government in last 15 years, she said that if AL is voted to power again it will carry out a feasibility study to introduce metro rail in Sylhet.
Steps would be taken to river bank development to prevent flood, install double-track rail line on Dhaka-Sylhet route, construct another bridge beside Keane Bridge, conduct dredging on Kushiara, Manu and other rivers, she said .
Expansion of Sylhet Osmani International Airport and dredging of Surma River after 50 years are going on, The AL Chief said.
Sheikh Hasina said, in the upcoming election on January 7, if the people of Bangladesh vote for the boat, and AL can form a government again , “we will make the whole Bangladesh a developed and prosperous one.”
“No more people will be homeless, and landless. This is our aim ,” she said, adding, “the development and prosperity of Bangladesh brings smiles to the people of Bangladesh.”
Mentioning that Bangladesh has already got the status of a developing nation, which has to be materialised , she said that AL government should remain in power to implement it.
Sheikh Hasina said that now there are no landless and homeless people in Sylhet. “I have been able to house every homeless and landless person. I have given community clinic for their treatment. That is, we are fulfilling the basic needs of people. Inshallah we will do the remaining .”
