PM asks party-men to work together for AL candidates

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DHAKA, June 22, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked her party leaders and activists to work together to make all upcoming elections free and fair and take part in the polls by gaining confidence of the voters.

“You’ll have to work together whoever gets (party) nomination,” she said while addressing a joint meeting of Awami League Parliamentary Board (ALPB) and AL Local Government Nomination Board at Ganabhaban here this evening.

The meeting was held to nominate party candidates in three upcoming city corporation elections and a parliamentary seat as well as a number of pourasabha and union council polls.

“Every candidate is qualified for nomination, but we have to pick a single person in one seat. So we have to remember about the image of the party,” she said and added that earning the trust and confidence of the voters is very important.

“As the national election is approaching, all upcoming polls, particularly ones in city corporations, are very important … our government doesn’t want to stain election process that BNP did in the past and party workers have to keep it in their mind,” she said.

The premier said her government doesn’t want to stage any elections like Magura and Dhaka or the February 15, 1996 polls. “In 2014 BNP burnt people alive in the name of movement to halt the country’s democratic process,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said military dictators snatched the peoples’ mandate through rigging elections. “But we have ensured the right of the voters to exercise their franchise. Discipline has been restored in the electoral process by introduction of transparent ballot boxes and voters list with photographs and other reforms,” she said.

The prime minister said her government wants to strengthen the country’s democratic process. About 6,000 polls at different levels were held during the tenure of the present government without any major objection, she said.

She also directed the party leaders and workers to highlight the developments of the country during the tenure of Awami League government. “The country witnessed an unprecedented development during the tenures of Awami League,” she said.

The prime minister said Bangladesh was graduated as a developing country within nine years of Awami League government and the country would be able to reach its aspired destination if the pace of development continues.

Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League, founded in 1949, would celebrate its founding anniversary tomorrow. The party has led in all movements including language movement and struggle for freedom under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“We want to build Awami League as an institution as the party has not only earned freedom, but also led the movement for socioeconomic development of the people of the country,” she said.

After Bangabandhu’s brutal killing, she lamented, Bangladesh went backward as far as development issues are concerned.

Sheikh Hasina said people of Bangladesh witness progress when Awami League comes to power. “The 69th founding anniversary of the party coincides with inauguration of a new office building to work in better atmosphere for the people,” she said.

Awami League is the only political party in the country which led to earn every achievement of the nation. So, responsibility of Awami League is more than any other political party, she said adding that leaders and workers of Awami League have to remain aware of this.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu wanted to free the nation from poverty and hunger and establish Bangladesh as a dignified nation amid world comity. The present government has also cherished the goals and every leader and worker of the party has to work with same spirit and devotion, she said.

She said Awami League is not a political party born from the womb of a power monger. “The existence of the party is rooted deep on the soil and people of Bangladesh … we have to keep it in mind,” she said.