Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in the definition of 'relative' in the upazila elections, 'What is the family formula - one's son, daughter and wife! There is no family outside of this! We want the election to be free of influence! People can vote freely!
The Prime Minister said all this in response to a question at a press conference after her visit to Thailand at the Prime Minister's official residence, Ganabhaban, on Thursday (May 2) at 11:30 am.
The Prime Minister said that many of the families of Awami League had already been elected in one place for a long time. The one who became an MP, may have been the union or upazila chairman's wife long before him. But it's right, in one place he gave his wife, in another place he gave his son, that's not right! Activists should also be evaluated. I will take everything myself, I will not keep anything for my leaders and workers, that is not possible!
She said, everyone is contesting in the election, it means making the election meaningful.
Referring to the boycott of some parties, Sheikh Hasina said that many political parties are boycotting the elections. Why reject! Because they are not able to choose. If you want to do 'Parliament Election', you have to show the people who will be the next leader or Prime Minister! If you don't have a suitable leader, then you have to find someone. I did not make an election, that's the reality! That is what is happening in our country! If the accused is shown to the people, the people will not accept it. If you want to do politics, you have to take risks!
The Awami League president said, "After '75, I was not allowed to come to the country. Rehana did not even get a passport! The war criminals who were tried by the Father of the Nation, the convicted convicts who were released and allowed to do politics, are the ministers, advisors, in power. Murderers in power! I returned to the country in that state. My life was in danger. I got hit again and again but I survived. This is the problem of many. Why did I survive after trying to kill so many times!
Commenting that there has been 'development' because Awami League has come to power, she added that Bengalis have been given the opportunity to stand tall or speak in the world. Earlier, when I heard the name, I used to say 'poor', 'beggar caste', whether I was able to get rid of that bad name or not, that is the big thing!
The Prime Minister said that elections are being held in many other countries. We will see how the people there vote. We will see that too. Our effort is to make the process more public and transparent!
We have constituted the Election Commission by making law for the first time. Financially it was dependent on the Prime Minister's Office. I made it autonomous from there. I have made a separate budget.