AL comes to power through election, not by back door: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday categorically said that her party Awami League comes to power always through election and never by the back door.

“We want the democratic process to continue. The Awami League came to power with mandate from the voters in the elections and it never used the back door,” she said.

Hasina, chief of the ruling party, said this in her introductory speech at the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) meeting, which she chaired at her official residence Ganobhaban.

The prime minister thanked the people of the country for repeatedly voting her party to power.

“Due to this the country witnessed huge development in the last 13 years leading to their rising living standard,” she said adding, “Awami League is the party of people and land of this country.”

She also put emphasis on the continuation of the pace of the development.

Once again Hasina questioned about the existence of the leadership of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). “Where is their leadership?,” she wondered.

“Rightists, leftists and extreme leftists have now joined with them,” she said.

Hasina criticised a section of erudite people who always look to others to get some power for them.

“They defame the country from abroad as if foreign powers will put them in the state power,” she said.

She underscored the need for strengthening her party further as the election is coming nearer.

She mentioned that Awami League always holds its council regularly.

“The next council is knocking at the door. We have completed many of the tasks as pledged in our election pledges,” she said adding, “We have to more tasks to do.”

Talking about the move of the BNP-Jamaat clique and their alliances to oust the government she once again questioned the logic behind it.

“What is the fault of the Awami League? In which area we have failed,” she questioned.

The PM said that his government has put importance on the development of the rural areas since 2009.

“As a result, the infrastructures of the rural areas have improved a lot and people could go to their village homes smoothly,” she said.

In this connection, she mentioned that this year people could go their villages hassle free to meet their loved ones during the Eid-ul-Fitr festival. She thanked the communications minister for this.

“This type of public movement (from cities to villages) increased money circulation in the rural areas which is beneficial for the economy of the country,” she said.

She said that Bangladesh has now become the role model of the development in the world. “We will follow our own path to develop the country and will move around the world keeping our heads high,” she said.

Referring to the gifting some 33,000 houses to homeless people, the prime minister reiterated that her government will ensure that no one remains homeless in the country.