New Delhi: A day ahead of the Bangladesh general elections, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, citing the country’s growth trajectory during her 15-year tenure, urged the political parties not to peddle ideas that “disrupt” the constitutional process, news agency PTI reported. Addressing the nation on Saturday, the Awami League president said whenever her party came to power, it ensured the economic and social development of the people.
“People's food, safety, medicare, housing, education, employment and massive infrastructure development is ensured. My request to political parties and institutions that believe in democracy and the rule of law is not to indulge and fuel any idiosyncratic/peculiar ideas that disrupt the constitutional process in the country,” PM Hasina said in a veiled attack on the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) which is boycotting the January 7 voting.
Apart from 436 independents, a total of 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties are in the fray for the 12th National Parliamentary Elections. 119.6 million registered voters are eligible to vote across 42,000 polling stations on Sunday, as per the Election Commission.
“We expect a free, fair and neutral election. The election commission has been given financial independence, while administration and law enforcement agencies are vested under the EC. The election commission is conducting the election fully independently. Our government is giving all kinds of support to the election commission for conducting fair and peaceful elections,” PTI quoted the 76-year-old leader as saying.
It is to be noted that BNP, led by former prime minister Khalida Zia, has called for a 48-hour nationwide general strike after the Hasina government rejected their demand for an interim non-party neutral government to hold the election.
Highlighting her party's goals to turn the nation into a “Smart Bangladesh” by 2041, PM Hasina said there is a notable change between Bangladesh of 15 years back and today, as “people's quality of life has improved and people today dream of a better life.”