Keep country free from BNP, Jamaat to continue development: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday (23 December) urged the people to keep the country free from the BNP and Jamaat to continue the ongoing development.

"The BNP is not a political party rather a terrorist one. Jamaat is a party of war criminals. The country has to be kept away from both the BNP and Jamaat to keep up the ongoing development of Bangladesh,"the Awami League president said while addressing a ruling party public rally as part of its campaign for the national polls in six districts.

The development trend will continue only when there is a free and fair election, she said, adding, "In the elections, the people will elect their preferred candidate through casting their vote, and the development of the country will be kept rolling."

In this regard, the premier urged the people to uphold the democratic trend of Bangladesh alongside the development spree in the elections.

As a developing nation, Bangladesh has to be built as a developed and prosperous country, she added.
 
She joined the rally virtually at Public Library Filed in Kushtia, Wazir Ali School and College Field in Jhenaidah, Satkhira Government High School in Satkhira, Zilla Stadium in Netrokona, and Sheikh Russell Stadium in Rangamati district as well as Bamna and Patharghata upazilas in Barguna districts from Bangladesh Awami League Office.
 
The premier said in Smart Bangladesh, each citizen will be educated with modern-scientific and technology-based education.

"The population will be smart, the government will be smart, the economy will be smart and all trade and business will be smart there. We will move ahead keeping pace with the world with our heads held high."
 
She further said, "Bangladesh is not secure in the hands of terrorist BNP and war criminal Jamaat as they don't believe in independence and the spirit of the liberation war.

"So, it is my call to all of you [the people] to continue the ongoing development trend keeping the country away from the hands of BNP and Jamaat," she added.

The AL president said she wants the elections to be held in a peaceful manner, and people of the country would exercise their rights to vote properly.

"We want to secure democracy, because if democracy prevails, the country advances rapidly and we've proved that," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her party aims to continue the spree of development in Bangladesh.

"The BNP did not participate in the elections and in the name of resisting polls, they unleashed arson terrorism like they did in 2013 and 2014. They are now on the field with their dangerous stance," she said.

She also referred to recent incidents of arson attacks such as in railways.

The AL chief questioned the leadership of BNP as both Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman are convicted in various cases.

"Tarique Rahman is living in London and gambling away. He is giving orders from there and the BNP leaders and activists are killing people in Bangladesh." 

"I want to say to you [leaders of activists of BNP] that you will share the sins if you kill people by setting fires."

"If he has so much courage to come into the country, people of Bangladesh will take their revenge for killing people."

Regarding the national polls, the AL chief said the ruling party has opened the elections for aspirants from her party.

"That's because we want people's participation in the elections, and cast their votes peacefully," she said.

Sheikh Hasina asked all candidates, including the party nominated candidates and independent candidates, to go to the doors of the voters.

"Whoever the people will cast their votes for will be the member of parliament," she said.

The Awami League has remained in power since 2009, said Sheikh Hasina, adding that's how the country has changed a lot.
 
"We've attained recognition as a developing nation, we have to keep that and advance further," she said.

Senior party leaders were present at Awami League office in Dhaka while the Awami League nominated candidates and other leaders from the six districts.

On December 20, Sheikh Hasina kicked off the election campaign of AL formally from Sylhet following the tradition and Ziarat of shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA).

Besides, she held election rallies in five districts – Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Natore, Pabna and Khagracchari - through a virtual platform from Awami League Office at Tejgaon in the city on 21 December.