Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the government is taking all preparations to hold the next general election of the country in a free and fair manner.

“The next election will be free and fair, we are taking all kinds of preparations,” she said.

The Prime Minister said this while outgoing Switzerland ambassador Nathalie Chuard called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office.

PM’s speech writer M Nazrul Islam briefed the reporters after the call on.

He said that the Prime Minister said that the government has formed a neutral Election Commission after enacting Election Commission Law and through a search committee.

“The foreign observers will come to oversee the election of the country and they will do their job freely,” she said.

Hasina said that the Election Commission is totally independent and the government has no control over it and its budget.

Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, said that Awami League is the major political party of Bangladesh, which has its base upto the grassroots level.

“This political party took birth from the mass people,” she said.

The Prime Minister said that BNP and Jatiya Party were born in cantonment. Chiefs of these two parties first became president by illegally grabbing the state power, later they formed their political parties.

“They do not have any base among the mass people,” she said.

Regarding Jamaat-e-Islami, she said that they were involved in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of the country in 1971. “They also do not have any base among the mass people,” she said.

She said that if the people vote the AL in the next election, it will form the government.

She said that over the last 14 years the government has transformed the country massively.

“It was possible as the people cast their votes in 2008 election for AL and its alliance giving two-third majority,” she said.

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Hasina said that AL always believes in the power of people and works for flourishing the democracy.

Regarding the Rohingya issue, she said that over one million Myanmar nationals living here are a burden for Bangladesh.

She urged all western countries to extend their support to their return in their homeland.

She also said that due to the COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War negative impact occurred on the economy of the whole world.

She said that these two elements forced the developing countries including Bangladesh into hardship.

“We are trying to offset this impact,” she added.

She questioned who are gaining from this war, only the arms sellers are making profit.

“The world should stop this war at once,” she said.

The Prime Minister also briefly described women empowerment in the country.

Switzerland ambassador Nathalie Chuard said that Bangladesh is graduating to a developing country from the least developed one and her country will continue to support Bangladesh for its smooth transition.

“I will always remain as a well-wisher of Bangladesh,” she said.

She said that she visited every corner of the country and she was impressed to witness the remarkable and impressive development of the country.

Nathalie Chuard said that Bangladesh has to face some challenges including COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine War and climate change.

“I am hoping that Bangladesh will be able to advance further facing all these challenges,” she said.

She appreciated the quality of democracy, its stability and good relations with neighbouring countries.

She also highly appreciated the progress in women empowerment in the country.

Regarding Rohingya issue, she thinks that they should go back to their homeland quickly.

Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin and Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present.