Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also president of the Awami League, today vehemently criticized BNP-Jamaat for inciting a wave of terrorist and militant activities against citizens of the country. This campaign, she asserts, aims to disrupt the upcoming national election scheduled for January 7, 2024.
She accused the BNP-Jamaat of acting on directives from London, asserting that the people of Bangladesh would not tolerate such crimes.
Asserting the constitutional right of citizens to vote, Sheikh Hasina declared that no one should obstruct or harm others for exercising their voting rights. Her comments came during interaction with reporters following her visit to Hazrat Shahjalal’s shrine in Sylhet.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Bangladesh rejects all forms of militant and terrorist acts. She expressed confidence that the people of Bangladesh would eventually reject those responsible for such actions.
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Addressing the recent arson attacks on trains, she issued a stern warning to the perpetrators, emphasizing that such criminal acts would be met with decisive action. Sheikh Hasina criticized the BNP-Jamaat clique’s attempts to derail the election and prevent voter participation but noted the public's overwhelming support for the electoral process.
“People are not responding to BNP’s strikes. What will they gain through such destructive activities? Rather, people will hate them ultimately,” she said.
Highlighting her party’s past successes, she recounted the Awami League’s election victories in 2009, 2014, and 2018, attributing them to the party’s commitment to meeting the people’s basic needs.
“Rest of the needs will be fulfilled Inshallah, if in the January 7 election people of Bangladesh cast their votes for the ‘boat’ symbol, and if we can from the government again. We will ensure a developed and prosperous Bangladesh. And no one will be without an address, home, and land,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina also touched on her government’s goal of bringing happiness to the impoverished, in line with the vision of the Father of the Nation, and mentioned the country’s recent elevation to developing nation status.
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Regarding BNP’s decision to abstain from the election, she questioned the necessity of resorting to violent tactics like arson attacks, which she labeled as “terrorist and militant activities.” She condemned the BNP-Jamaat alliance’s history of violence, including recent attacks on civilians, police, and journalists.
Emphasizing the democratic process within the Awami League, she stated that the party allows all members to participate in elections, leaving the choice of MPs to the electorate.
She emotionally condemned the tragic deaths of a mother and child in yesterday’s arson attack on a train in Dhaka, questioning the morality of such violence. “There is nothing more painful... How can a human being do this to another?”
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She reiterated her stance against fear tactics used to disrupt elections, referring to similar unsuccessful attempts in 2013 and 2014.