This election most fair, participatory, competitive since 1975: PM Hasina
She also said the 7 January election was the most free, fair, disciplined, participatory and competitive among the polls held after 1975.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the 12th national election has been the most free, fair, disciplined, participatory, and competitive of all the polls held after 1975.
"The 7 January election will be written in golden letters in the history of Bangladesh," she said, extending thanks to the people and organisations concerned, including the Election Commission, law enforcement agencies, and armed forces, for holding a "wonderful election".
In an apparent reference to the BNP, the prime minister also said no one could survive in Bangladesh politics if they followed the suggestions of their foreign masters, reports BSS.
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"The BNP was out to foil the national election. They have some [foreign] masters. They don't know the Bangladeshi people. It will not be possible to survive in Bangladesh following masters' advice," she said when Awami League leaders and activists gathered at Ganabhaban to wish her on the party's landslide victory in the national polls, paving her way to become prime minister for the fourth consecutive term.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's younger daughter Sheikh Rehana presented a flower bouquet to her elder sister Sheikh Hasina at that time.
The premier said, "We have no [foreign] masters. The people of Bangladesh are our masters and our strength. The people's faith and confidence are our strength."
"BNP was out to foil the national election. They have some (foreign) masters. They don't know the Bangladeshi people. It will not be possible to survive in Bangladesh following the masters' advice."
Despite conspiracies of the BNP-Jamaat clique to thwart the election, Sheikh Hasina said, "A free, fair, neutral, and participatory election was held with the spontaneous participation of the people.
"We have proved that the election can be held in a free and fair manner under the Awami League government."
The prime minister asked the party leaders and activists to work in unison, forgetting everything for the welfare of the country and its people.
She said they made the election open to make it participatory and competitive, adding that the party-nominated candidates have lost to independents, even though they thought they would win.
Mentioning that conspiracies are being hatched to cash in on the differences between the party men, she said, "So, work shoulder to shoulder for the welfare of the country and its people, by forgetting everything while showing respect to the people's mandate."
The premier commended the spontaneous participation of women in the election, saying it was the outcome of ensuring women's empowerment.
In this connection, she said a 130-year-old woman had cast her vote for Boat in her Tungipara-Kotalipara constituency.
"I want to cast my vote for Sheikh Hasina for the last time," the premier quoted the aged woman as saying.
Earlier, the central executive body of the AL, led by its General Secretary Obaidul Quader, greeted the prime minister with a flower bouquet. The AL has bagged 222 seats out of 298 in the 12th national poll.
Sheikh Hasina said the BNP leaders and activists have now become frustrated as their party boycotted the election.
She said the BNP-Jamaat clique has tried time and again to foil elections in 2014 and 2018.
"But they had failed," she said, adding that the same thing happened to them this time too as the people took part in the election spontaneously.
She said the non-participation of some political parties in elections doesn't matter, adding that the participation of the masses matters.
"If the people don't want the Awami League in power, we will abide by their mandate," the premier said.
Mentioning that the masses had dislodged the BNP government within one and a half months as they assumed power through rigging in the 15 February 1996 election.
They had tried to come to power through manipulation in 2006 after incorporating 1.23 crore fake voters into the voter list, and the people of the country made their attempt fail.
"The people of Bangladesh never accept any injustice," she said.
The prime minister reiterated her pledge to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous, and smart country by 2041.
