PM urges people to go to polling centres to cast votes on Jan 7

Awami League (AL) President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the countrymen to cast their votes in January 7 parliamentary election to prove that democracy has been prevailing in the country, reports BSS.

"Vote is your democratic and constitutional right. Go to the polling centres to cast your votes and thus prove that democracy is prevailing in the country," she said.

She said this while addressing the last public rally of the election campaign for the 12th parliamentary polls slated for January 7, at Fatullah in Naranyanj.

The AL president asked all to maintain peace across Bangladesh ahead of the 12th parliamentary election.

Describing the ‍‍`Boat‍‍` as the symbol of development, she said, "Boat is our electoral symbol. If you vote us to assume power again, we will build a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh."

She said her government has made tremendous development of the entire Narayanganj in the last 15 years since 2009, which has been possible due to continuation of a democratic government for a longer period.

"If we are voted to power again, we will build Narayanganj a smart city as it is a very important town and very close to the capital," she said.

The AL president also pledged to build three metro rail lines -1, 2 and 4 - which will cross Narayanganj district.

She said conspiracies are being hatched till the date to foil the election, urging the countrymen to remain alert to this end.

"There are lots of conspiracies to thwart the election. So, maintain peace to this end," she said.

The AL president said that BNP has started boycotting election since they were defeated badly in 2008 election in which BNP-led alliance only get 20 seats while the AL got 233 seats.

"Sensing defeat, the BNP-Jamaat clique is out to foil the election by arson terrorism like 2013-14," she said, adding, "But the people of the country won‍‍`t allow to restrict voters from casting votes," she said.

The next parliamentary election must be held on January 7 confronting all the conspiracies.

The AL president reached the venue ground at 3.13pm and waved the national flag to a roaring response of the participants after boarding the boat shaped huge stage.

Narayanganj district and metropolitan Awami League organised the rally at the AKM Shamsuzzoha Sports Complex ground in Fatullah‍‍`s Masdair area here.

At the rally, Sheikh Hasina introduced her party nominated four candidates of Narayanganj district.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Narayanganj-4 AL candidate Shamim Osman, AL Office Secretary Biplab Barua, Nayaranganj-1 candidate Golam Dastagir Gazi, Narayanganj-3 candidate Abdullah Al Kaiser and Narayanganj 2 candidate Nazrul Islam, among others, also spoke at the rally.

Bangladesh Awami Juba League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy also spoke when Narayanganj 5 member of parliament Salim Osman was present on the dais.

Narayanganj district AL President Abdul Hai presided over the rally.

AL leaders and supporters started assembling at the venue ground since morning with processions, chanting various slogans and taking placards in hands from different parts of Narayanganj district.

The ground was filled to brim with the people of all strata of life that turned the rally into a human sea.

Narayanganj and its nearby districts wore a festive look as the roads, lanes and by lanes were decorated with various posters, banners and placards welcoming Sheikh Hasina and seeking votes for boat.

Sheikh Hasina said BNP carries out terrorist activities to foil the election as it fear to take part in the election sensing defeat.

"BNP has one virtue - that is resorting to arson and killing people. They don‍‍`t give anything to the people rather make their own fortune," she said.

The AL chief said the BNP-Jamaat had created a mayhem on October 28 last in which they conducted attacks on the residence of chief justice, judge‍‍`s quarter, police, journalists and Awami League women leaders and activists.

She said they killed people by cutting fish plate of railway track and burnt a mother with her child alive by setting a passenger train on fire which moved the world conscience.

"They have no humanity," she said.

She said her government has brought cent percent people under electricity coverage which was only 28 percent during the BNP government.

Referring to decreasing trend in electricity production, food production and education rate during the BNP regime, she said, "The country goes backward if BNP comes to power."

Bangladesh has achieved the status of a developing nation alongside increasing the per capita income to 2793 US dollars and reducing poverty rate to 18.7 percent from 41.1 percent, as the Awami League has been in power for three consecutive terms following the path of democracy, she said.

She continued: "Bangladesh will start its journey as a developing country from 2026. Only Awami League can make easy the journey of Bangladesh towards development and prosperity. So, vote for the Awami League."

Mentioning that the country had attained independence and got the status of a developing nation as the people voted Awami League to power time and again.

"We are not only working for the development of the country but also for the development of the countrymen," she said, giving a brief description of her government‍‍`s welfare activities such as introduction of social safety net programme.

Noting that her government has given 5 crore family cards against the rise in inflation globally due to Russia-Ukraine war, she said, "We have given the cards so that none has to bear the pain (of price hike of essentials)."

The Prime Minister asked the countrymen to bring every inch of arable land under cultivation so that Bangladesh has not to depend on anyone for food.

Giving a brief description of the huge development that took place in Narayanganj in the last 15 years of the Awami League government, she said, "Narayanganj has witnessed an unprecedented development in the last 15 years."

She said her government has built a number of bridges connecting Narayanganj that included Nasim Osman Bridge, Meghan Bridge, Sultana Kamal Bridge, Gomoti Bridge alongside turning Dhaka-Narayanganj link road into a six lane, Jatrabari-Kanchpur highway into a eight lane road, expansion of Panchaboti to Muktarpur Road, constructing Bhulta flyover.

The AL chief said they have built an university and a medical college in Narayanganj.