Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a press conference regarding her visit to the United Kingdom and participation in the United Nations General Assembly session.
The Prime Minister's press conference started at Ganabhaban on Friday (October 6) at 4 pm. She answered various questions asked by the journalists.
To the journalist's question, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that those who came to power illegally, usurped people's rights, boycotted elections, stole votes and came to power should hear about free and fair elections. The misfortune of Bangladesh is here.
At the time, she said, when the country is moving forward economically, why is everyone so worried about free and fair elections? 'Doubt it...'.
Referring to the 2008 elections, the Prime Minister said, BNP won only 29 seats. That's when they realized that they can never come to power with free and fair elections. Then in 2014, they did not spare any misdeeds including arson, burning people's property and killing people to prevent free and fair elections. Last in 2018, they fought among themselves and withdrew from the election. They have to listen to free and fair elections!
In response to a question, the Prime Minister said that they know that people's votes cannot be obtained through elections. So they want to disrupt the election. They are protesting everywhere. They have laundered so much money from power that now they have no shortage of money.
She said, we have freed Bangladesh from all kinds of misdeeds. From that school life, we have been agitating. Zia, Ershad, Khaleda are all vote thieves. Awami League does not need to steal votes. People vote for us. We earn people's trust through work. We have fought against Ayub Khan, Zia, Ershad, Khaleda Zia, we have stopped all the misdeeds.
At that time she said that the people of this country got freedom by voting for boat, they got economic liberation by voting for boat. People's living standards have been improved by voting for boats. She also said, we have eradicated poverty. I brought it down from 41 percent to 18 percent. We did it on our own initiative, not through any NGO or loan.
Pointing out that we do not have to learn free and fair elections, the Prime Minister said that we have established the right to vote of the people of Bangladesh under the leadership of Awami League. It is the people who voted us to power again and again.