Upcoming elections very much important: Hasina

AL president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina presides over a meeting of party’s Parliamentary Board and Awami League Nomination Board for local government elections at her official Ganabhaban residence on Friday. Photo: PID
AL president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina presides over a meeting of party’s Parliamentary Board and Awami League Nomination Board for local government elections at her official Ganabhaban residence on Friday. Photo: PID

Ruling Bangladesh Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said neither Awami League nor her government wants the Magura or 15 February, 1996-like elections in the country anymore, state news agency BSS reports.

"We don't want to see Magura or 15 February, 1996 type elections in which BNP rigged votes," said Hasina while talking to the nomination seekers for elections to three city corporations, 10 union elections, three upazila elections and five municipality elections after a joint meeting of Awami League Parliamentary Board and Awami League Nomination Board for local government elections at her official residence Ganabhaban.

Sheikh Hasina said the upcoming elections are very much important for the government as the national election is approaching fast.

"Naturally, these elections are very much important for us... There's win and loss in elections; make sure these don't tarnish Awami League’s image; work together so that we could serve people," she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the chief of the ruling party, said the city corporation elections are vital and all have to work for the nominated candidates of the party.

"It's very much important to gain the trust and confidence of voters."

She mentioned that all will have to abide by the decisions of the party and there should not be any intra-party feud during the elections.

More than 6,000 elections were held in the country under the Awami League tenure and BNP could not prove any allegation against these elections, Hasina said.

The AL president said the drive against militancy, terrorism and drugs is going on and it will continue.

"We want to establish Bangladesh as a peaceful country."

She called on the party leaders and activists to inform the voters about the “massive developments” taken place during the tenure of the AL government.

"You'll have to tell the voters that if AL is voted to power again, there'll be continuation of development," she added.