Upazilla election was not a farcical election: PM

"The upazila election was not a farcical election. People of the country exercised their franchise freely and fairly in electing their favourite candidates from Awami League, BNP and even Jamaat-e-Islami," she said.
"Had the poll been rigged or manipulated by the government of Awami League, not a single candidate of Jamaat could have won," she said when elected upazila chairman and vice-chairmen from Tungipara called on her at Gonobhaban here.
The Prime Minister said the government wanted to hold the upazila election as a local body election with the participation of everybody. So, there was no inference from the government in the polls, she added.
"It has been proved from the upazila election that the government can hold any election freely and fairly ensuring the voting rights of the people," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said BNP was against the upazila system. That is why; they scrapped the system after coming to power in 1991. The Awami League had taken a decision for revival of the local government system after taking office in 1996, she said.
The Prime Minister said elections of other tiers of the local government would be held gradually and the government is taking preparations in this regard.
Elected Upazila Chairman Gazi Golam Mostafa, vice-chairmen Asim Kanti Biswas and Afsana Begum Meem and central leader of Awami League Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah spoke on the occasion.
The newly elected upazila council leaders of Tungipara, home district of Sheikh Hasina, greeted the Prime Minister with presenting a bouquet of flowers.
Focusing on her government plan for development of every upazila, the Prime Minister said every upazila should have a master plan for its development.
With the master plan, she said, the government wants to develop planned housing projects, protect agricultural lands, ensure access to electricity and put in place a better communication system in every upazila.
Sheikh Hasina said the government wants to reach all utility services and urban facilities to the rural people to provide them with better living conditions and civic amenities.
The Prime Minister said her government is making relentless efforts to strengthen the rural economy for economic progress of farmers, labour class people and the downtrodden. In view of this, huge monetary allocation is being given for the rural areas, she added.
She urged all newly elected upazila leaders to prepare well- thought-out development plans for their respective areas so that every area can grow up smoothly and the plans could be easily implemented.
Pointing out the current political situation, the Prime Minister said BNP is trying to mislead the people by presenting false information. She said BNP, an illegally born political party, is even raising questing about our sacred constitution, which was acclaimed by world community.
She said Ziaur Rahman compelled Justice Sayem to resign from the post of the president and usurped power. Later, he had founded BNP and clung to power with the support of the anti- liberation forces, she said, adding that evil forces are out to distort the history again.
Sheikh Hasina said BNP and anti-liberation forces left no stone unturned to erase the nation's history of independence and valor for a long period after 1975.
"But, now they would not be able to misguide people as the nation is fully conscious of its history, heritage and tradition," she said. The Prime Minister urged the party leaders to make joint efforts to strengthen the party at all levels and work sincerely to build a happy and prosperous nation by 2021.