Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday made it clear that the next general election in Bangladesh will be held under her Awami League government and it will be free and fair. “So under our government, definitely election will be free and fair,” she told a session titled "In conversation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina" of the Qatar Economic Forum at the Raffles Hotel here in Doha. Haslinda Amin, editor-at-large of Qatar Economic Forum anchored the session. The prime minister is now in Doha on a three-day official visit mainly to take part in the Qatar Economic Forum 2023.  Her assertion came as the opposition BNP and its allies have launched a renewed campaign of street protests asking her government to step down to pave the way for holding the next election under a neutral caretaker administration. Also Read: PM joins opening session of Qatar Economic Forum  Bangladesh is due to go to  polls by December this year or in the first week of next year.  Responding to a question, she said that after the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, military dictators jeopardised all election process.  “The election was just a game (then),” she said. She recalled that when the Awami League elected her as its president back in 1981 in her absence only then she could return to the country.  “Since then we started to struggle for restoring democracy and people’s right to vote. It was our struggle to ensure free and fair election. And we did it during our time in every election,” she said. Regarding the opposition BNP's demand, Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, said that in 2008 election nobody raised any question about it. “What was the result then? The party (BNP) which is raising the question now got only 29 out of 300 seats in the Parliament,” she said. Sounding firm the prime minister said that she is here to ensure people’s voting right, Because people should decide who will run the country.  “It is people’s power, I want to ensure people’s power. I am here not to grab power. Rather I want to empower our people that they should have their right to choose their government,” she said. Replying to a question, Hasina mentioned that now some parties said they will not participate. “How will they participate? Because during their time the country suffered a lot. Our people suffered. At their time terrorist activities increased. Everywhere there was corruption, nepotism and exploitation. They never bothered about the people. It was very difficult for our people to get one meal per day. That was the situation,” she said.   She said that after the Awami League came to power it has ensured everything for the people.   “It's the people’s right to vote in election. What we have done now the people understand that. If they vote for us I am here, if they don't, ok fine,” she said clearly. Also Read: PM reaches Doha for Qatar Economic Forum 2023 The PM said that during her tenure there had been many by-elections, local government elections, which were free and fair.  “You can see, who is creating problem. We are not. But in every election some incidents may take place,” she said. She also mentioned that the government has asked everybody to send election observers to Bangladesh for the next voting.  “So I can tell you I am here to ensure my people’s democratic right, voting right and it is our struggle," she stated. She said that she is here to serve the country and its people so they could live a better and prosperous life.  “Bangladesh should be a developed country, that is my aim. Why should I try to jeopardise people’s right that we have established. Definitely election will be free and fair.” She also termed BNP as a party of criminals and killers. “They (BNP) may not feel comfortable. But, there are other parties, those parties will participate in the election," she said.  Replying to a question IMF's recent loan to Bangladesh, PM Hasina said the IMF assists only the country that can repay the loan. In providing the loan, the IMF considered whether the country can pay it back or not, she said  "We'll definitely be able to pay it back," said the PM. The premier said Bangladesh has successfully  overcome the fallout of COVID-19 pandemic due to her government's pragmatic plans and steps.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said that her Awami League party’s stay in power for three consecutive terms has helped Bangladesh change a lot and develop towards prosperity. “We have to advance more as a developing country and become a developed one,” she said.  “I have formulated that plan. We have formulated Vision 2041 and Delta Plan 2100 for the future generations.” The premier was addressing a reception accorded to the gallantry award winning freedom fighters of Bangladesh Armed Forces and their heirs marking the AFD-2022 at Dhaka Cantonment. She said that as a victorious nation Bangladesh is highly regarded by the world. Bangladeshis now move around the world keeping their heads high. “We have achieved that, but we have to advance more in the coming days,” she said. Read more: Resist misinterpretion of Islam and militancy: PM Hasina The PM said that the government is constructing homes for the homeless people offering them opportunities to changing their lives. “We are trying tirelessly. Now at least we can say that the people of the world can’t neglect Bangladeshis,” she said. Hasina said that the Awami League as a party and the government never forget the contributions of the freedom fighters. “And that's why we have taken plans to build Bangladesh in the spirit of the Liberation War.” She said that the country has to advance further creating its solid base so that it graduates as a developed country from the developing one. “We are working towards that goal.” She said that COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war, US and European sanctions have put Bangladesh in deep trouble. Read more: Engage people to enhance capacity: PM Hasina to Firefighters She mentioned that prices of essentials have increased as Bangladesh has to buy commodities like edible oil, fuel oil, wheat, corn and lentils from abroad. “The transportation cost has increased too. So we are facing problems. But we are not sitting idle. I have already urged all not to leave behind one inch of land with cultivation to ease the sufferings of the people and avert the economic recession,” she said. The prime minister said that the government is taking appropriate steps to overcome the war related problems that have caused suffering to the whole world. Briefly describing various measures taken for the freedom fighters and their families she said that no one will ever look at them with disrespect and negligence. Read more: Grow more food, keep enough stock to avert any crisis: PM Hasina She said that the government found out the FFs who suffered negligence and is now taking all out measures to ensure that they get facilities such FF allowance. She said her government has increased the allowances for FFs and it will continue from generation to generation. “It’s our duty to work for those who had taken up arms responding to the call of my father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to make the country independent,” she added. She mentioned that there might be different ideologies among the FFs, but the AL government didn’t undermine their contribution.  "We are working to preserve the memories of the War of Liberation,” she said. She said that if the young generation knows the history of victory through the memorials of the War of Liberation, they will be inspired to work still harder for the nation. To this end, she said the government is establishing Muktijoddha Complex in each Upazila and has also taken measures to preserve the historic Suhrawardy Udyan where Bangabandhu had delivered his historic 7 March speech, issued directives to govern the country after the independence and Pakistani occupation forces surrendered.