Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina today said no one could survive in Bangladesh politics if they follow the suggestion of their backers, in an apparent reference to BNP.

"BNP was out to foil the national election [held on January 7]. They have some backers. They don't know the Bangladesh people. It will not be possible to survive in Bangladesh following backers' advice," she said.

The premier said this as the Awami League (AL) leaders and activists gathered at the Gono Bhaban to wish her on her party's landslide victory in the national polls, paving her way to become the prime minister for the fourth consecutive term.

The younger daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and younger sister of the prime minister, Sheikh Rehana, presented a flower bouquet to her elder sister Sheikh Hasina.

The premier said that AL has no foreign backers as the people are their strength.

"We have no masters. The people of Bangladesh are our masters and our strength. The people's faith and confidence are our strength," she said.

Despite conspiracies of the BNP-Jamaat clique to thwart the 12th parliamentary election, Sheikh Hasina said a free, fair, neutral and participatory election was held with spontaneous participation of the people.

"The January 7 election will be written in golden letter in the history of Bangladesh," she said, extending thanks to the people concerned including the Election Commission, law enforcement forces, and armed forces for holding a wonderful election.

She said the January 7 election was totally free, fair, disciplined, participatory and competitive among the polls held after 1975.

"We have proved that the election can be held in a free and fair manner under the Awami League government," she said.

The prime minister asked the party leaders and workers to work in unison, forgetting everything for the welfare of the country and its people.The AL president said many of the party nominated candidates have been defeated by independent candidates, even though they thought they would win.

Mentioning that conspiracies are being hatched to cash in on the differences between the party men, she said, "So, work shoulder to shoulder for the welfare of the country and its people forgetting everything by showing respect to the people's mandate," she said.

The premier commended the spontaneous participation of women in the election, saying it is the outcome of ensuring women empowerment.

In this connection, she said a 130-year old woman cast her vote for boat in her Tungipara-Kotalipara constituency.

Quoting the aged women, she said, "I want to cast my vote for Sheikh Hasina for the last time."

Sheikh Hasina said the BNP leaders and activists have now become frustrated as their party boycotted the election.

She said that the non-participation of some political parties in election doesn't matter, adding the participation of the masses matters.

"If the people don't want the Awami League in power, we will abide by their mandate," the premier said.

Mentioning that the masses had dislodged the BNP government within one and a half months as they assumed power through rigging votes on February 15, 1996 election.

"The people of Bangladesh never accept any injustice," she said.

The prime minister reiterated her pledge to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and smart country by 2041.

The Election Commission (EC) today turned down candidature of Jatiya Party leader Ruhul Amin Hawlader from Patuakhali-1 constituency for contesting the upcoming general election.

The EC during the second day of its hearing declared Hawlader’s candidature invalid on the ground of loan default, our staff correspondent reports from the EC Secretariat.

Meanwhile, the commission cleared the way for another JP candidate Masud Parvez Sohel Rana for contesting the polls from Barishal-2.

JP Chairman HM Ershad in a sudden move on December 3 removed Hawlader from the party’s secretary general post and replaced him with State Minister for LGRD Moshiur Rahman Ranga.

Hawlader's fall from the JP chief's grace came a day after his nomination papers were rejected by the returning officer concerned on grounds of loan default. 

Ershad was unhappy with Hawlader due to allegation of “nomination business” against him, JP insiders said.

The Election Commission (EC) around 10:00am today at its office in Dhaka’s Agargaon area resumed the second day of hearing on the appeals of the nominees earlier rejected by the returning officers during scrutiny.

BNP standing committee members think the party should not yet get involved in the ongoing campaign for boycotting Indian products.

They said although there is pressure from within for supporting the campaign, the party is yet to finalise its stance regarding the matter.

The top leaders believe that some people, including online activists, called for the campaign in late January out of their grievances against India over the January 7 national polls.

"BNP has nothing to do with the campaign. But if the party joins the campaign, it will be given a political colour, which may in the end backfire," said a BNP standing committee member who attended a virtual meeting of the committee on Monday night.

He said there is no doubt that the anti-Indian sentiment is running high among the party's rank and file, especially after the national election. The issue was discussed in detail at the meeting.

Another standing committee member suggested assessing the overall situation regarding the campaign and drawing up a strategy on dealing with the issue.

"The issue will be discussed at upcoming meetings, and then the party will make its position clear," he said.

Yesterday, The Daily Star approached at least three BNP standing committee members for comments, but none of them wanted to be named considering the sensitivity of the issue.

The issue came up for discussion at the BNP standing committee meeting as the party's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press conference on March 20 expressed solidarity with the movement. He threw his Indian shawl on the road in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office.

Later, some other BNP leaders also talked about the campaign for boycotting Indian products.

At Monday's meeting, none of the BNP standing committee members contradicted the statement by Rizvi. But a member told the meeting that the way Rizvi threw his shawl was not decent.

At this stage, another standing committee member said Rizvi later informed the media that he personally threw his shawl, not as a BNP leader.

Another committee member told the meeting that BNP must criticise Indian's measures (regarding Bangladesh) but that criticism should be well thought out.

Another BNP leader said that the party has nothing to do if people start boycotting Indian products and that the party will not be able to ignore the public demand at some point.

"But supporting the campaign of boycotting Indian products will not be wise for the party," he told the standing committee meeting.

The BNP is yet to decide on participating in the upcoming upazila elections. All the standing committee members observed that the party should stay away from the polls.

Some BNP leaders, however, said the party should not bar any individual from running.

BNP will not go for any hartal and blockade-like programmes over the next few days even though the party outright rejected the poll results.

The party, which is the main opposition for the Awami League, wants to continue with its peaceful programmes including mass contact and leaflet distribution to garner public support for its demand for election under a neutral government.

The party will decide on its next course of action after seeing the reactions of the Western nations that have long been calling for a free, fair and participatory election, The Daily Star has learnt from top party leaders with knowledge of BNP's next course of action.

For now, the party has announced mass contact programmes for today and tomorrow. It may demonstrate at district and divisional levels and also organise black flag processions.

The party also wants to focus on the release of its leaders and activists who were put behind bars before the January 7 election, as per the discussions of a virtual meeting of the party's standing committee members on Sunday.

People did not go to the polling centres responding to the BNP's calls to boycott the election, the leaders said quoting the standing committee members.

"Our movement will continue until a democratic government is established."

— BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan

The voter turnout was not more than 10 percent as there was no queue at the voting centres.

"The turnout of 40 percent is simply unbelievable. In the last one hour, 13 percent of the votes were cast when 27 percent of the votes were cast in the first seven hours. This is absurd."

Besides, there are several media reports and video footage where irregularities were captured.

"So this election will not be acceptable to the international community," said a standing committee member of the party.

The US and the Western nations will be critical of the election and may come up with some harsh measures that will mount pressure on the government.

The party has already collected documents on vote rigging and violence relating to elections.

Those documents will shortly be sent to the diplomatic missions stationed in Dhaka. The BNP higher-ups may brief the diplomats too.

A staggering 30,000 partymen are now in jail and their release should be in focus right now, said another standing committee member of the party.  

Because of that, the party will not go for any tough programmes, he added.

"Our movement will continue until a democratic government is established in the country," said Abdul Moyeen Khan, a standing committee member of BNP, at a press conference held at the party chairperson's Gulshan office.

The office was locked up since the party's October 28 rally was disrupted by law enforcement agencies.

Leaders of major political parties used the Eid holidays to campaign for the parliamentary elections scheduled for 2019.

Believing that the Eid holidays were a key opportunity for reaching out to a large number of constituents, leaders of ruling Awami League, the BNP and main opposition Jatiya Party rushed to their constituencies before Eid and campaigned throughout the holidays, said party leaders.

This year the presence of young politicians in their constituencies was significant and hundreds of party ticket hopefuls campaigned.

The party ticket hopefuls even distributed food and clothes among their constituents.

Those not MPs expressed their eagerness to run in 2019 while the incumbent lawmakers told their constituents that it was imperative they get elected again to finish their work.

The leaders sought the voters' blessings.

Even AL President Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia spoke about the elections in their Eid greeting speeches.

After exchanging Eid greetings at the Gono Bhaban, Hasina said, "We want cooperation from all ... we want to make the country free from hunger and poverty and make it a prosperous one as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia while exchanging Eid greetings at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre said the next national election must be held under a supportive-government with the deployment of the army to install a pro-people administration to end public sufferings and ensure good governance.

The Election Commission has already drafted the roadmap for the next elections. The two major political parties have been internally preparing for the polls. 

Khaleda has sought votes for the BNP and had unveiled the party's Vision 2030. She said no MP would go unchallenged in the next polls.

BNP leaders believe that they would run in the next election whatever the situation.

A large number of AL leaders, especially young leaders, visited their constituencies and areas and sought people's blessing after Hasina declared that those with close ties with constituents would get party nominations.

Apart from incumbent AL MPs, young leaders like Ashim Kumar Ukil, Aminul Islam Amin, Badiuzzaman Bhuiyan Dablu, Afzal Hossain, Enamul Haque Shamim, Sujit Roy Nandi, ABM Reazul Kabir Kawsar, Marufa Akter Popy, Mahmud Hasan Ripon, Saifuzzaman Shikor, Shafi Ahmed, Ajoy Kar Khokan, Mainul Hossain Khan Nikil, Sajjad Shakib Badsha, Aktaruzzaman Babu, Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu, Nafiul Karim Nafa, Badiuzzaman Shohagh, Zahiruddin Mahmud Lipton were seen campaigning in their areas.

Our Rangpur correspondent said a number of MP hopefuls of different parties visited constituencies of the district.

Local BNP leader Saiful Islam sought vote for BNP after the Eid congregation at Pirganj Eidgah while AL MP Ahasanul Hoque Chowdhury of Rangpur-2 sought vote for Boat in next polls. Boat is the electoral symbol of the AL.

Our Sylhet correspondent added that Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, adviser to the BNP chairperson, carried out a month-long campaign in Sylhet-1 constituency and expressed his desire to run in the next polls.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith is the incumbent MP of Sylhet-1.

Abdul Momen, younger brother of Muhith, Shahed Muhith, son of Muhith, and AL Organising Secretary Misbah Uddin Seraj also campaigned in the same constituency.

For the last few months, AL leaders Ashim Kumar Ukil, Reazul Kabir Kawsar, Badiuzzaman Bhuiyan Dablu, Afzal Hossain and Misbah Uddin Seraj have been staying mostly in their areas to campaign, sources said.