Home ›› 10 Feb 2022 ›› Governance
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the Narayanganj City Corporation polls proved again that the people never make any mistake as they have elected their favorite candidates in a free, fair and neutral election.
“The people never do mistakes and that’s the reality... It has been proved again in the NCC elections,” she said.
The prime minister said this at the oath-taking ceremony of newly-elected mayor of NCC Dr Selina Hayat Ivy and 36 councillors at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.
She administered the oath of office to Dr Ivy joining the ceremony virtually from Ganabhaban.
Mentioning that her government believes in democracy and people’s right to vote, Sheikh Hasina said the people will vote to elect the candidate by their choice who will work for them.
“Because, the people never do any mistake . . . that is why we do everything keeping confidence in people,” she said.
Thanking the Election Commission and the law enforcement agencies for holding free and fair elections in NCC, she said through this polls, the people have exercised their voting rights and elected the candidates of their choice.
The prime minister also congratulated all the people of Bangladesh, especially in Narayanganj, as the NCC poll appeared as a great example.
She also extended her gratitude to the people of Narayanganj for electing her party’s candidate by voting in the symbol of “Boat”.
Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League, however, directed the elected representatives to act responsibly towards the people without thinking of their own pleasures.
She said the BNP always spreads propaganda because the party leaders don’t see their faces in the mirror.
At the function, Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam also administered the oath to the newly-elected 36 councillors, including 9 councillors of reserved seats present in-person at the swearing-in ceremony.
The NCC election was held on January 16 last as Awami League candidate Selina Hayat Ivy was elected mayor for the third consecutive term.
“The democratic process has been continuing for the last 13 years. As a result, the country has won the status of developing nation, while the per capita income has increased to $2,591, and the GDP now stands at 6.94 per cent defying the adverse impacts of Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the Covid-19 induced recession has affected the whole world, including many developed nations “but Bangladesh has been able to keep its economic wheel rolling out, and became the developing country”.
She urged the elected public representatives to value the trust and confidence of the people that they reposed in them. “Don’t forget the pledges that you made to people. Work for the welfare of the people. The people are now conscious. Perform your duties keeping that in mind,” she added.
Without mentioning the name of Khaleda Zia, the prime minister said the government, out of its compassion, has given her a scope to stay at her home.
About Tarique Rahman, the acting chairperson of the BNP, Sheikh Hasina said he had given a bond not to do any politics in the future and went abroad during the caretaker government.
“Why will people cast their votes for a party, the chairperson of which is a convicted fugitive and staying abroad? How can they expect?” she added.
She continued, “They (BNP) never want election, they don’t understand election, they know how to rig votes, they don’t know how to motivate voters as they don’t believe in the voting rights of people. It’s the reality.”
Reacting to the BNP’s criticism over the election, she said the party was not in the habit of seeking votes, rather they have habit of snatching and stealing. “So they don’t understand the meaning of democracy, they don’t understand the meaning of people’s rights, and they don’t have that education,” she said.
She added that “they (BNP) understand terrorism, corruption and militancy. They can create Bangla Bhai, they can kill people.”
