No game with voting rights will be allowed: PM

Reiterating that the next general election would be held in a free, fair and impartial manner, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said no one would be allowed to play ducks and drakes with people's voting rights.

She was addressing a meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee at the Gono Bhaban in the evening.

Hasina, also the AL president, said the Election Commission would hold the next parliamentary elections independently.

About the BNP's demand for holding a free and fair election in the country, the PM said the party should look in the mirror as it had “first staged farcical elections”.

Bad incidents took place in the country over elections during the rule of the BNP, she added.

Hasina alleged that General Zia had staged a “Yes-No” vote after grabbing power violating the constitution. “Ziaur Rahman also held farcical presidential elections where record 100 percent votes were cast. After the polls, he had formed the BNP.”

Mentioning that the Magura, Mirpur and Dhaka-10 by-elections were rigged during the tenure of the then BNP government, she said the BNP damaged people's voting rights.

Meanwhile, meeting sources told The Daily Star that the AL chief alleged that a gap had been created between the party leaders and activists. She asked AL leaders, ministers and lawmakers to reduce the gap.

Hasina also advised party MPs to visit their electoral areas frequently and maintain close relations with voters to strengthen organisational activities ahead of the next national polls.

She asked party leaders to boost the ongoing member recruitment drive.

Source: unb