Will honour the mandate

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday promised to honour people's confidence placed in her government through the national polls, saying her administration would work for all citizens irrespective of their political affiliations or views.

Addressing a mammoth rally in the capital, she also said people gave a clear mandate in favour of Awami League's manifesto aimed at freeing the country of militancy, drugs, corruption and poverty, and ensuring peace and development.

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The ruling party organised the rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan to celebrate its landslide victory in the 11th parliamentary election.

In the December 30 polls, the AL won an absolute majority bagging 257 seats, and the party-led Grand Alliance secured 288 seats out of 299.

This is Hasina's fourth term in office. With the tenure from 1996 to 2001 and three terms in a row since 2008, she heads for a record 20 years as the prime minister.

"As we got the responsibility to serve the people, I can tell you without any hesitation that our government will work for all irrespective of their party affiliations and views," said Hasina.

She promised that her government will devote itself to a balanced development of the country keeping in mind that people gave them a great honour in the    election.

"The people of the country gave their unanimous verdict in favour of our election manifesto. To keep the honour of their mandate, we'll always work to develop the country in a balanced way for the welfare of all.”

Amid enthusiastic applause and cheering of thousands, she vowed to implement her party's manifesto word for word. 

Part of the huge crowd at yesterday's Suhrawardy Udyan rally in the capital. The Awami League organised the programme celebrating its landslide victory in the December 30 national polls. Photo: PID

Noting that the people cast their valuable votes for her party, the PM said she will honour it at any cost. "If needed, I'm ready to sacrifice my blood.”

Hasina further said corruption, drugs and terrorism have to be wiped out besides establishing good governance to develop the country.

“I'll ask all the elected representatives to keep in mind that fulfilling the expectations of people is our responsibility."

She said it is hard to achieve the victory but it is much harder to serve the people keeping that victory intact. "We've been entrusted with that harder task. We've to perform that responsibility wholeheartedly. I want to remind you all,” she added.

"We'll ensure that political rights are protected and the living standards of all are improved ... each and every citizen of the country is very much important to us."

Observing that people want to build the country with the spirit of Liberation War, Hasina said there'll be no place in this land for anti-liberation forces, war criminals, corrupt elements, terrorists and drug addicts.

The PM expressed her gratitude to the three services and law enforcement and intelligence agencies for ensuring the atmosphere for fair polls, and the Election Commission for organising a free election.

She also thanked all the political parties which took part in the election.

Senior AL leaders including Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chowdhury and Mohammad Nasim speaking at the rally highly praised Hasina for her leadership in taking the country forward.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader read out a citation for Hasina, thanking her for her leadership in achieving the historic victory in the December 30 election.

The rally formally started around 3:30pm. But people from different corners of the city started to swarm the historic venue around 11:00am.

Wearing colourful t-shirts and caps, people came in their thousands with banners, festoons and placards, chanting slogans and singing.