Prime Minister sheikh Hasina today came down heavily on the USA for imposing sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion and some of its officials, terming it an "abominable move".

"I think imposing sanctions (on RAB and some of its officials) after all these successes (containing militancy, drugs, pirates and terrorists) is very much an abominable act," she said.

The prime minister was speaking at the 18th founding anniversary of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Shaheed Lt Col Azad Memorial Hall of Rab Forces Headquarters.

The PM joined it from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

She said that Bangladesh has provision of punishment if a member of a law enforcement agency gets involved in any kind of crime.

"But it's a matter of regret that they imposed sanctions on some Rab members without any fault or cause. In their country they do not take any action against any member of their forces for their criminal activities," she said.

In this connection, she mentioned that in the US one child was shot dead just for putting his hands into pockets and in another incident a law enforcement agency member strangled one person on the street.

"For that reason they did not get any punished," she said.

She said Bangladesh is the lone country around the world where anyone engaged in any crime faces punishment.

Hasina said that she does not know whether the US are hurt by the successes achieved against these social menaces like militants, drugs, pirates and terrorists.

"I cannot tell that, but Bangladesh registered success to contain militants, drugs, pirates and terrorists and it is true," she asserted.

The prime minister said that the most regretful matter is that some people of the country are engaged in making various types of moves including propaganda against Bangladesh.

"All of them are criminals, they lost their jobs for some faults or left the country."

Criticising America for giving shelter to war criminals and killers of the Father of the Nation, the prime minister said, war criminals and convicts of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are staying in the USA.

She said that the US gave the convicted criminal citizenship. Bangladesh is repeatedly requesting them and sent letters to the Presidents and Justice departments stating that they are criminals, killers, they killed women and children.

"We told them you have to send them (war criminals and killers) back. They gave shelter to them in their country protecting the criminals. And impose sanction on some Rab officials without any crime," she said.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and RAB DG Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun also spoke at the programme.

The US Treasury Department in last December slapped sanctions on RAB and seven of its serving and former officials for alleged grave violation of human rights, triggering protests from Bangladesh.

Former Rab director general Benazir Ahmed, now the inspector general of police, are among the sanctioned officials.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda has ruled out any scope of holding fresh election, as demanded by opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront.

“There is no scope to hold the national election again,” he said while briefing to media today, a day after the 11th parliamentary election was held.

Rejecting the allegation of ballot stuffing on the night before election, the CEC said: “It is completely untrue.”

Expressing complete satisfaction over the election, he said the voter turnout in the polls was 80 per cent.

Nurul Huda said the election took place with festive atmosphere but there may have some unfortunate incidents during the voting and the commission will investigate the incidents.

HOW WAS THE ELECTION?

Voting for the 11th parliamentary election ended peacefully in Dhaka; but was tainted with violence elsewhere across the country and cost the lives of at least a dozen people.

Reports of casualties came in from Cumilla, Chattogram, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangamati, Cox’s Bazar, Bogura, Noakhali, Narsingdi and Gazipur.

Allegations of vote rigging, election clashes, intimidation and irregularities came in from several other constituencies and capital Dhaka city.

Also, the election saw opposition candidates boycotting elections in at least 43 constituencies; 42 of who were Jatiya Oikyafront runners.

WHY 2018 POLLS IS SIGNIFICANT?

It is after 10 years that Bangladesh and its people are witnessing an election that is being held in participation of all the major political parties.

The last one held on January 5, 2014, was highly debated both nationally and internationally as it saw no election to more than half of the seats.

A total of 153 constituencies out of the total 300 saw lawmakers elected uncontested – an election which was boycotted by prime opposition BNP.

Sheikh Hasina remained in rule for two consecutive terms with the parliamentary opposition of Jatiya Party, which took part in the cabinet of Awami League.