Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged BNP to participate in the 12th national election slated for January 7 to examine whom the people want to see in power.
"Let's join the election to see how far one can run and to know whom the people want to see in power," she said.
The prime minister was delivering her introductory speech ahead of AL's Parliamentary Nomination Board meeting at the party's Dhaka district office in city’s Tejgaon area to finalise the party's candidates of Rajshahi, Khulna and Rangpur divisions.
She also sounded a note of warning against any move to foil the election.
"Don't try to thwart the election. If anyone does so, the consequences will not be good for anyone," she warned.
The premier called upon other political parties to participate in the next election.
"They (remaining other parties) who are in dilemma, I urge you all to take part in the election as there is no doubt that the next general election will be free and neutral," she said, welcoming the parties which announced to join the polls.
The prime minister said she had given instructions time and again to make sure that the people of the country can vote freely.
"We will hold the election to ensure people's rights to franchise. We will not interfere to this end. We want the election commission to hold a free and neutral election," she said.
She also said they don't need to steal the votes, as the people have confidence and trust in the Awami League.
The international agencies' surveys have also portrayed the same thing, she added.
"So, we will take part in the election with self-confidence," she continued.
She urged the countrymen to cast their votes in favour of their choice with self-confidence.
"You can vote as you wish," she said.
But, being president of the AL, Sheikh Hasina said, "I called upon the countrymen to vote for my party's electoral symbol Boat to give us another chance to serve the nation."
The prime minister said the BNP feared to join the election as they have none at the top of the party as their two top leaders have been convicted of corruption.
She continued that the FBI had testified against Tarique and Canadian police gave depositions against Khaleda Zia for their involvement in corruption.
The premier also delivered a witty remark saying BNP can join the next election to make business by selling nomination papers which they had done in the past.
PM joins AL's parliamentary nomination board meeting
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina attended her party's parliamentary nomination board meeting ahead of the 12th national election slated for January 7.
The meeting started at 10am at the office of Dhaka district AL unit in Tejgaon area to finalise party's candidates of Rajshahi, Khulna and Rangpur divisions to participate with its electoral symbol Boat in the upcoming national polls.
Sheikh Hasina, also President of the AL parliamentary nomination board, presided over the meeting.
Aspirant candidates of the AL have submitted 1127 nomination forms against 108 seats in the three divisions. Of them, 416 nomination forms have been submitted in Khulna Division, 409 in Rajshahi division and 302 in Rangpur division.
The AL had sold 3,362 nomination papers for 300 seats in four days from last Saturday to Tuesday at the party's central office at Bangabandhu Avenue which means on average 11 forms were sold for each seat.
The AL has earned a total of Tk 16.81 crore by selling the nomination papers as each of the forms was sold at Tk 50,000.
