Don’t believe Oikyafront’s any election boycott announcement: Sheikh Hasina

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged all, including her party candidates and followers, not be believe if BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront (JOF) announce their withdrawal from Sunday’s election halfway through.

"All must stay alert so that the JOF cannot make tomorrow's (Sunday’s) election questionable," she said.

Sheikh Hasina made the remarks while coming out from the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) at Dhaka Cantonment after visiting critically injured Dr Mahbubur Rahman.

She mentioned that if the JOF declares that they are not there in the election fray on the voting day there’s no reason to believe that and this is their another game.

"I request the voters to cast their votes, I request the candidates to collect the result-sheets having the signatures of presiding and returning officers," Hasina said.

The AL president said it is the character of the BNP-Jamaat to withdraw their candidatures at the midway of the election.

"I request our all agents in the polling centres to remain there till the results are out… all must continue the election procedure," she said.

Hasina reiterated that she wants a peaceful, fair, free and neutral election on Sunday.

The AL chief said although the BNP-Jamaat clique killed six of her party men and injured a hundred ahead of the election, she requested her party followers to have patience. "I know the people of the country will vote for us, we’re sensing what the mass people desire."

About JOF's repeated demand for a level-playing field, she said their level-playing field means to make them winners. "They don’t think they’ve to win through a competition.”

She said BNP created their own problem by auctioning their nominations. "Due to their nomination trade, many of their popular and old politicians did not get the party tickets. They’re angry over the party high-ups. The nomination deprived candidates naturally won’t allow the candidates to enter their respective areas. They locked into fight, set fire to their campaign offices. But, they’re shifting the blame to us. This is how they’re trying to mud the water," she added.

She mentioned that if the BNP had not done the nomination trade they might not fallen in this problem.

Urging people to cast their votes, the AL chief said her party struggled a lot to establish democracy and the voting rights of people. "Maintaining the continuation of democracy is urgently needed for development. If this development continues Bangladesh will be more prosperous."

The Prime Minister said if the election can be held peacefully then local and foreign investments will get a boost strengthening the national economy.

She said if people voted her party to power again that will be good, and if not, she has no problem. "I’m putting the responsibility on the shoulders of voters."

Regarding the attack on Dr Mahbubur Rahman in Dinajpur by the BNP-Jamaat terrorists, she asked the law enforcement agencies to find out the culprits and ensure their due punishment.

Source: unb