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Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Friday reiterated her call to the nation to stay alert against any move to destroy the electoral system, saying that the BNP again wants to play foul with the people's voting rights and destroy the country.
"Election is not their (BNP's) concern as they are again out to play ducks and drakes with the voting rights of the people," she said.
She was addressing as the chief guest the "largest-ever student rally" organised by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan marking the National Mourning Day and 48th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Referring to 2008 general election, she mentioned that the BNP-led 20 party alliance only got 30 seats in that election. "They didn't come to vie in election. They didn't seek votes and didn't get votes. You (BCL leaders and activists) should make people understand the matter," she said.
Describing BNP as the killer, looter, corrupt, terrorist, militant, grenade attacker, firearms smuggler, embezzler of orphan's money and vote manipulator, the prime minister said, "They never want welfare of the country and its people... they want to destroy the country."
She said the BNP made Bangladesh world champion in corruption for five times alongside turning it into a country of militancy and terrorism and looted peace and property of the masses.
"They have maligned Bangladesh in every sector," she added.
The premier came down heavily on the BNP as they are now talking about revival of democracy in the country despite the fact that they never believe in democracy as the BNP was formed by military dictator Ziaur Rahman who grabbed state power illegally violating the country's constitution.
"The BNP was born at the hands of a person who illegally grabbed state power. They don't believe in democracy," she said, adding that they are now saying that they will revive democracy in Bangladesh.
Carrying festoons, banners, placards, national and BCL flags and wearing T-shirts and caps with BCL logo, hundreds of thousands of leaders and activists of the BCL from across the country joined the rally since this morning by chanting slogan "Once again Sheikh Hasina", turning the venue and its adjoining areas into a human sea.
The prime minister also unveiled the cover of the BCL publication "Matribhumi".
On her arrival at the venue around 3:40pm, the Prime Minister was received by the Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and the president and the general secretary of the BCL.
Former BCL President Obaidul Quader addressed the rally while other former presidents and general secretaries of the BCL were present on the dais.
BCL President Saddam Hussein presided over the massive student rally while its General Secretary Sheikh Wali Ashif Inan moderated it.
The BCL president administered an oath to hundreds of thousands of students to dedicate them for welfare of the country and its people following the ideal of Father of the Nation under the prudent leadership of Sheikh Hasina and to help her win the next election through ballot revolution in favour of the AL's election symbol "Boat".
At the outset of the rally, the national anthem, theme song of the BCL and a song dedicated to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were sung while another song dedicated to the Father of the Nation was also screened.
One minute silence was observed to show respect to martyrs of August 15, 1975 and the Great Liberation War.
Mentioning that the conspiracy that had started soon after the Liberation War, has been continuing till the date, Sheikh Hasina, chief of the AL, asked her party's student body BCL leaders and activists to remain on high alert like "vanguards" to thwart any conspiracy that can hinder the country's progress towards tuning Bangladesh into poverty and hunger free Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
"The boys and girls of my Chhatra League will be the leaders of the 2041 Smart Bangladesh. I expect it from you ---I have also formulated the Delta Plan-2100. So, none could halt Bangladesh's progress anymore. Chhatra League will have to remain alert like vanguards," she said.
She asked the BCL men to pursue their studies accordingly to make them worthy to give leading in every sector whether in businesses and in jobs reminding them that the Chhatra League's main principle is "Education, Peace and Progress."
The prime minister urged the BCL leaders and activists to study the "Unfinished Memoir" the "Naya Chin I Saw" and "Prison Diary" and secret documents of the Pakistani intelligence agencies on Bangabandhu to know about the Father of the Nation and his ideal and thus for your characters.
Referring to a remark made by the Father of the Nation that political organisation needs a correct leadership, the Prime Minister said right leadership requires running any organisation, adding, "I hope my BCL leaders will make them worthy enough as they can lead everywhere whether in politics, business and jobs."
The prime minister said, "I believe the Chhatra League is the force of the youths which will march the country towards progress".
She said the Chhatra League had played a pivotal role in every democratic and progressive movement to make the country's overall development for which Bangladesh has got the status of a developing nation as she herself and many of her cabinet colleagues were leaders of the organisation.
The prime minister recalled the contribution of the Chhatra League with due honour, saying that the student organisation played a leading role in every need of the nation that included the Liberation War and movement to release her from jail after her arrest during 1/11 alongside the Covid period.
"Chhatra League plays a pivotal role in any disaster like flood and drought. So, I have enough trust and confidence in them (BCL leaders and activists) --- the history of Bangalee is the history of Chhatra League," she said.
The premier asked the BCL men to make people aware about the universal pension scheme introduced for all to secure their lives in old age.
She came down heavily on the BNP leaders as they have said that the universal pension scheme was introduced to collect funds for the AL in running the next general election.
The prime minister also instructed the BCL men to take measures in bringing every inch of land under cultivation against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter sanctions which triggered economic meltdown and high rise in inflation across the globe.
Sheikh Hasina said her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had dedicated his life to ensure the political rights of the people alongside giving social, cultural and economic freedom to them. Her mother Bangamata always gave complete support to the Father of the Nation, she added.
"My mother knew that Bangabandhu had been struggling for liberation. So, she supported my father every time. My mother was killed after the assassination of my father on August 15, in 1975 as she (Bangamata) did not beg mercy for her life," she continued.
The prime minister said her mother played the role of a guerrilla and reached every instruction of Bangabandhu for the Chhatra League while the Father of the Nation was in jail.
The only target of Father of the Nation was to change the fortune of the people, she said, adding that she has been working to accomplish the dream of the Father of the Nation to give the countrymen a beautiful and improved life.
