People to reelect AL, hopes PM

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UNB, Dhaka :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday hoped the people of Bangladesh will reelect Awami League in the next general election to maintain the continuity of development in the country.
“In the next election, I believe the people who are now getting the benefits of development will surely vote for ‘boat’ and reelect Awami League to maintain the continuity of development and thus turn Bangladesh into a mid-income country by 2021 and a prosperous one by 2041,” she said.
The Prime Minister was speaking as leaders of Awami League and its associate bodies met her at her official residence Ganobhaban in the morning and greeted her marking the 9th anniversary of her release from prison. AL general secretary Obaidul Quader was present.
Sheikh Hasina said, “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is not amongst us now. But, I believe it’s my duty to materialise Bangabandhu’s dreams as his daughter. From that dutifulness, I’ve been working for the country’s development and the welfare of its people.”
Hasina, also the Awami League chief, asked her party leaders and workers to move ahead imbued with the spirit and ideology of Father of the Nation and render services to the country’s people.
“As we’ve been doing good works for people, and people are now in good condition, my father is watching this from the heaven as at least his country’s people are now getting two square meals every day,” Hasina said.
Mentioning that the biggest power in the life of a politician is honesty, integrity, ideology and always remaining prepared for making any sacrifice, which Bangabandhu had said time and again, Hasina said, “We’ll move ahead imbued with Bangabandhu’s ideals.”
On this day in 2008, Hasina was released from the special sub-jail set up on the
 premises of Jatiya Sangsad Building after remaining captive there for nearly 11 months.
She was arrested from her Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi on July 16, 2007 during the military-backed caretaker government, which assumed power amid the political changeover of 1/11, 2007.
Conceding to people’s spontaneous and repeated demands and pressure from different quarters, the caretaker government was compelled to release Sheikh Hasina from jail.
Later, in the national election on December 29 in 2008, the Awami League-led grand alliance registered a landslide victory and Hasina was elected Prime Minister for the second term.
Blasting the BNP-Jamaat nexus for their misrule, looting, oppression during their tenure, Hasina alleged, “People have no trust and confidence in them (BNP) as it’s a party of looters.”
She said, Bangladesh became champion in corruption for five consecutive times during the BNP rule. “But, now Bangladesh is a role model of development as Awami League is in power. Whenever AL assumed office, the dignity and reputation of the people of Bangladesh increased while their socio-economic condition improved.”
Recalling the days in the sub-jail, the Prime Minister said she was kept in an abandoned house for long 11 months, even she was not allowed to come down to the ground floor, let alone attending a doctor when she was sick. “But, I never lost hope.”
Hasina lambasted again BNP chief Khaleda Zia for waging her so-called movement to foil the January-5 polls in 2014.
“Khaleda Zia wanted to go to power through burning people alive. But, she (Khaleda) couldn’t foil the election, rather people didn’t respond to her call and she had to return to her home from her office after appearing before the court in the face of pressure from people,” Hasina added.
Criticising again Khandoker Mostaque and Ziaur Rahman for their conspiracies to assassinate the Father of the Nation, she said had Bangabandhu remained alive Bangladesh could have been a developed country in South Asia within the 10 years of country’s independence.
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