“The parties that were born in the hands of military dictators can’t move on their own. They don’t have public support. So, they fear the direct election.”: PM

Sheikh Hasina, President of the Bangladesh Awami League and Prime Minister, said on Monday that the country has successfully set an example of organising free, fair, and impartial elections during its general election on Sunday.

"You've come to see how people vote in our country. "We've established a precedent that elections can be free, fair, and neutral," she stated.

The premier made the statements while speaking with local and foreign journalists and election monitors at the Ganabhaban complex ahead of the 12th legislative elections.

People elected her party by voting for it in this election. Furthermore, several independent candidates and even candidates from other parties were elected, she stated.

"The people of this country elected them by a spontaneous vote. We have taken numerous efforts to ensure that the election was conducted fairly, as you witnessed," Hasina stated.

She dedicated her party's resounding victory in Sunday's election to the voters.

"This is not my win. "I believe it is a victory for the people," she added to applause from the audience.

The AL president stated that she has long struggled to establish people's rights (including voting rights).

Pointing at BNP, Hasina said a party didn’t participate in the election as they are afraid of contesting the direct election.

“The parties that were born in the hands of military dictators can’t move on their own. They don’t have public support. So, they fear the direct election,” she said.

Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana, Bangabandhu’s grandchildren Saima Wazed and Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby were present at the event.