Awami League believes in democracy and has faith in the people, the party's president Sheikh Hasina said yesterday morning, after casting her vote. “We will accept whatever decision the people will make.”
Replying to a journalist's query at Dhaka City College polling centre in the capital's Dhanmondi, she said she was absolutely confident that her party would be victorious in the 11th parliamentary polls.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. “I'm always confident about our victory in the election… I trust my people and I know that they will choose us so they can get a better future,” she said.
Hasina arrived at the centre around 7:55am amid tight security, and cast her ballot on the second floor at around 8:00am.
The premier's sister Sheikh Rehana, daughter Saima Wazed Hossain and nephew Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, the candidate from AL in Dhaka-10 constituency, accompanied her to the centre.
About the election atmosphere in the country, the AL president said after coming to power, her party has always tried to hold elections peacefully. “We've created a congenial atmosphere so that people can cast their votes without any hindrance,” she said. However, mentioning several incidents in which 10 leaders and workers of AL were killed by BNP-Jamaat men before the polls, Hasina said, “The BNP-Jamaat are terrorist parties and they always indulge in terrorism and corruption.”
“Ten of our leaders and workers, including the AL president in Patnitala of Naogaon, were killed by the BNP-Jamaat cadres in the last couple of days,” she said.
“We don't want any violence; we want that the people will cast their votes peacefully, which is their fundamental right… they will cast vote and make [any candidate] victorious as per their wish.”
Urging all to have patience, Hasina said, “If we can hold the elections peacefully, whatever party comes to power, it will continue the development process.”
“Bangladesh has started its journey towards the highway of development, and I believe that the people will vote for 'boat' to continue the process of development and give us another chance to serve them,” the PM said.
“The country is witnessing massive development since Awami League was voted to power. Now Bangladesh is a developing country and I have firm belief that we will be able to turn Bangladesh into 'Sonar Bangla', as envisioned by Bangabandhu, by bringing smiles on the faces of the distressed,” the AL president said.
“I think the spirit of independence, the Liberation War and the pro-liberation forces must be victorious,” Hasina said before leaving the polling centre premises, flashing a “V” sign.
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