‘BNP has no right to do politics’

Terming the BNP a terrorist party, Awami league President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the party has no right to do politics because it "burns and kills people".

Addressing a campaign rally at the Barishal city's Bangabandhu Udyan, the AL chief said her party will strive to build a better future for the youth.

The prime minister urged the first-time voters to cast their ballots for "boat", her party's electoral symbol.

Hasina said the AL believes in the power of the youth.

Her younger sister Sheikh Rehana was seated on the dais as she spoke to the cheering crowd.

The PM said the politics of the AL is only for the welfare of the people, but the politics of the BNP-Jamaat is to "burn people".

"While we develop the country for the people, the BNP-Jamaat unleash arson attacks," she said.

In this connection, the premier mentioned the recent arson attacks on trains that left a number of people dead.

Condemning those attacks, the AL president said the BNP-Jamaat carried out such arson attacks in 2001, 2013, and 2014.

Hasina said the BNP-Jamaat wants to foil the national polls.

The AL chief sought votes for "boat" so that her party can serve the people again. She urged all to go to the polling centres early in the morning of January 7. 

She said Bangladesh earned independence as people voted for "boat" in 1970.

Hasina introduced the AL and 14-party alliance candidates in Barishal division to the audience.

The PM said whenever the AL comes to power, the country moves forward. This advancement has to be continued, she added.

She said the development of Bangladesh is visible now and this has been possible due to the AL's continuation in power for 15 years.

The premier said her government will supply gasto Barishal for massive industrialisation and development of the region.

She said a medical university will be set up in Barishal like the other divisional headquarters in the country.

Hasina said if the AL is voted to power again, her government will construct a six-lane road from Bhanga to Barishal to ease communication.

Referring to her party's goal to build "smart Bangladesh" by 2041, the AL chief said, "Our children will be provided with proper education.

"They will learn science and technology, and become skilled human resources. We will build them as smart and skilled human resources."

In "smart Bangladesh", the government will be smart using digital technology, agriculture will be mechanised, economy will be smart economy and the society will be turned into a smart society, she added.

She called upon the students to continue their studies attentively, as no country gets developed without proper education.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Barishal City Corporation Mayor Abul Khair Abdullah, AL advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu and Yusuf Hossain Humayun, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, and Jatiya Party (Manju) Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju, among others, also spoke at the rally, with Barishal AL President Abul Hasnat Abdullah in the chair.