Awami League President  Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday requested all voters to go to the polling centres early in the morning and cast their ballots for 'boat' to let her party serve them again. “The election will be held on January 7. Please go to the polling centres early morning with other voters and cast your votes for boat (the electoral symbol of Awami League,” she said. The prime minister said this while addressing a public rally at Taraganj Degree College. Her younger sister Sheikh Rehana was present on dais. She said that boat is the symbol of the boat of Prophet Nuh that saved the human race during the Great Flood, “This boat gave your independence and developed your living standard,” she said. “Will you cast your votes for the boat? Promise me, please raise your hands,” she asked while the audience raised their hands and chanted slogans for the AL election symbol. She also introduced Awami League nominated candidate for Rangpur-2 constituency Abul Kalam Mohammad Ahasanul Huq Chowdhury (Duke) at the rally and requested all to vote for him. Read: ‘PM sounded sincere about ensuring infrastructure facilities enabling those with disabilities to move independently’ Referring to numerous implemented development programmes of the government in the last 15 years, Hasina said that it was possible for the government as the people gave votes for her party in the last three elections. She also said that there are some development programmes left unfinished to materialise the dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. These are to make the country free from homeless and landless people and eradicate poverty completely, she said.  

Prime  Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday underscored innovation of climate tolerant crops by agriculture scientists and adaptation of modern technology for ensuring food security across the globe. She also laid emphasis on food preservation, reduction on post-harvest loss and nutrition security for the same purpose. Also read: Don’t go to foreigners with complaints: PM to labour leaders The prime minister said this while a four member Canadian delegation called on her at her official residence Ganobhaban. The four-member delegation was led by Stephen Visscher, CBE, Director for Strategic Partnership and Chief Operating Officer, Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), University of Saskatchewan. The other members of the delegation were Dr Balajit Singh, Vice-President (Research) of University of Saskatchewan, Dr Andrew Sharpe, Bangabandhu Research Chair in Food Security, GIFS, University of Saskatchewan, Canada and Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Lilly Nicholls. The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) of Canada's University of Saskatchewan (USask)  opened its regional office in Dhaka last year to enhance cooperation in research among agriculture research institutes of Canada and Bangladesh. The delegation came here to visit it. PM’s Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas briefed the reporters after the meeting. Hasina told the delegation that when Awami League led by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won an absolute majority in the general elections held on 7 December 1970, the then Trudeau Government in Canada urged the  government in Pakistan to hand over power peacefully to the elected representatives.  "Canadian Government continued its support towards Bangladesh during our War of Independence," she said. During the call on, Stephen Visscher said that they will provide all types of technical supports to the GIFS regional office located here.  Besides, Dr Balajit Singh said they will extend all out supports to them who will go to the University of Saskatchewan for higher studies. Dr Andrew Sharpe said that he will guide the person who will go to University of Saskatchewan for higher studies. Also read: PM: AL comes to power through election, not by back door The delegation also showed their interest to work on the multiple use of Bangladesh's Jackfruit and plant genetics. Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Executive Chairman Dr Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar were present among others.