Congratulatory messages have been pouring in for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party Awami League.

The Communist Party of China (CPC), the Developing Eight Organisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8) and the prime minister of Sudan in separate messages have congratulated Hasina and her party for the win in the December 30 parliamentary polls.

“Delighted upon hearing the victory of the Awami League [AL] in the 11th parliamentary elections of Bangladesh, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China [CPC] wishes to extend to the AL our heartfelt congratulations,” said a CPC message on Friday.

It said the long-standing friendly relations between the two parties have played the role of political guidance in the development of Bangladesh-China strategic cooperative partnership.

“On the threshold of new and important opportunities for the development of China-Bangladesh relations, the CPC stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the AL in our concerted effort to build a new type of party-to-party relations that seeks to expand common ground while reserving differences, and enhances mutual respect and mutual learning and to promote the steady progress of China-Bangladesh relations at an even higher level,” the CPC said.

Meanwhile, Sudanese Prime Minister Mutaz Musa Abdalla in another message on Friday said, “On my behalf and the People and the Government of the Republic of the Sudan, it gives great honour to extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for Your Excellency's re-election as the prime minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.”

In a message issued on Thursday, D-8 Secretary-General Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari felicitated Hasina and the people of Bangladesh on the AL's re-election.

“We, in D-8 Secretariat, share the same spirit with and join the people of Bangladesh in celebrating the outcome of this election. This decisive victory is a reflection of the people's aspirations for a prosperous Bangladesh and a stronger position and more assertive role in international affairs,” said the statement.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Indian National Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani,  King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Bhutan's Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, West Bengal and Tripura chief ministers Mamata Banerjee and Biplab Kumar Deb also congratulated Hasina and her party.

Hasina led the AL to a thumping victory in the December 30 polls, in which the ruling party-led Grand Alliance secured 288 out of the 300 seats.

President Abdul Hamid has invited Awami League President Sheikh Hasina to form government as she has gained the confidence of the majority of the members of the Parliament.

The invitation came after the current Premier Sheikh Hasina went to meet him at the Bangabhaban this afternoon, said Press Secretary to the president Joynal Abedin.

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina was unanimously elected chief of the Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) for the 11th Jatiya Sangsad during the first session of ALPP this afternoon.

THE ELECTION RESULT

The Awami League-led Grand Alliance secured a landslide victory in the national election held on Sunday, December 30, winning in 288 out of 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad.

The High Court (HC) today rejected a writ petition that challenged the legality of oath taking by lawmakers elected in the December 30 general election.

The court came up with the order saying that there is nothing illegal in taking oath taken by the lawmakers as they took charges of their offices on January 30.

The HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the order.

Earlier on February 6, the court concluded hearing on the petition and fixed today (February 18) for passing an order.

On that day, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon argued that oath taking by the lawmakers on January 3 was unconstitutional as the tenure of the 10th parliament expired on January 28.

“Therefore, there were two parliaments from January 3 to January 28 -- which is unconstitutional,” he told the court on February 6.

Attorney General MahbubeyAlamhad argued that as new lawmakers took charge on January 30, oath taking was not illegal.