Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the people of Bangladesh to go to polling centres and cast their vote on Jan 5 to uphold democracy in the country. She made the appeal as President of the ruling Awami League in a televised election speech broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar on Thursday, three days before the country goes to elections.The Prime Minister said, “We had taken oath as an elected government to uphold democracy. That’s why the elections will take place on January 5 in accordance with constitutional norms.”
She said there was no way for unelected individuals to come to power unconstitutionally. Hasina also said that she had no desire to hold the polls without the participation of the Opposition.
“You saw that we tried our best to get the BNP to join the polls… But the BNP did not participate despite our sincere efforts.” She also referred to the Opposition’s violent activities to thwart the 10th parliamentary elections.
The Awami League President sought vote for ‘boat’ in the upcoming polls and pledged speeding up development projects if elected again.
Chiefs or representatives of the six political parties, out of 12 going to polls, have been allotted a specific time to campaign for their respective parties on the state-run television and radio in the run-up to the polls.
The Awami League got 40 minutes, Jatiya Party 20 and JP, JaSaD, Workers’ Party and BNF were given 15 minutes each.
The polls would take place amid a nonstop nationwide blockade of the BNP-led 18-Party alliance which started from Wednesday.
The elections will see voting only in 147 constituencies as candidates in 153 seats have already won uncontested due to the Opposition’s boycott.-bdnews24.com
