BSS-28 Govt has no intention to win polls by snatching votes: PM

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Govt has no intention to win polls by snatching votes: PM

DHAKA, Dec 7, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government wants free, fair and neutral elections and it has no intention to win the polls by snatching the votes.

“We want the upcoming national elections to be free, fair and impartial where we have no intention to win the polls by hijacking votes,” she said.

The prime minister made the comments when 307 senior retired government officials called on her at Ganabhaban here this evening to express solidarity with the Awami League (AL) and pledge to work for the victory of the pro-liberation forces in the upcoming national election.

The premier said her government worked for the welfare of the people. “If the people, being happy, give vote to us, we will remain in power, otherwise not,” she said.

Referring to the 2001 elections, the Awami League president said her party did not lose in votes in that election. “We bagged more votes despite so many obstructions, but we were given less seats,” she said.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said after coming to power in 2009, she got a document (on the 2001 elections results) in the prime minister’s office.

“Which seats we will be given and which will not were marked in red, yellow, green and blue inks. From this, it was understood that how the elections were staged in that year,” she said.

Ex-secretaries Ashok Madhab Roy, Dr Khondakar Shawkat Hossain, SM Ali Kabir and Qmarunnesa Khanam and former principal information officer AKM Shameem Chowdhury, ex-additional secretary and freedom fighter Abu Taher, former additional IGP Shamsuddoha Khandakar, Agriculturist Wasiuzzaman Akhand, Engineer Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan, Professor Dilara Hafiz, former director general of Health Directorate Dr Deen Mohammad Nurul Haque, ambassador Abdul Hannan, former director general of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Directorate Nomanur Rashid, former additional secretary Ansar Ali Khan also spoke at the function, among others.

Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury and PM’s Political Affairs Adviser HT Imam were present on the dais, while former principal secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury moderated the function.

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