Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in an interview about the visa policy of the United States, they are giving sanctions, they can give more sanctions, it is their wish but we have guaranteed all the basic rights of the people of my country including the right to vote.
Voice of America aired the interview today, Saturday. The interview was conducted by Voice of America journalist Shatarupa Barua. The Daily Star is publishing an excerpt of the interview for readers.
United States Bangladesh a free, fair, impartial election; Bangladesh has been constantly urging to ensure human rights and freedom of expression. The US Embassy in Bangladesh has also expressed concern about this at various times. We have seen, last week on Friday, the United States Department of State said in a statement that it was going to take the first step in imposing the visa policy on Bangladeshis. We also know that the US ban on RAB in 2021 is still in place. What kind of initiatives are you taking to strengthen Bangladesh’s friendly and partnership relations with the United States, including addressing these issues?
And if we talk about human rights or voting rights, we are Awami League; We are the ones who fought for the voting rights of the people of this country – the people of Bangladesh. How many people have given their blood to get this right to vote. We have done all the necessary reforms for free, fair and impartial elections. Voter list with photos today; transparent ballot box; To make people aware of the right to vote; I will give my vote, I will give it to whoever I want, this slogan is given by me. This is how I inspired people. Because most of the time in our country military dictators have ruled the country. People didn’t have to vote. They just filled the ballot box and declared the result,’ he said.
Sheikh Hasina also said, ‘In protest of this, we have managed to bring the elections in a fair environment today by protesting and struggling. Now people are very much aware about their right to vote. We did that. In that case I do not think there is any justification for suddenly giving such a sanction.
Secondly, according to the laws of our country, any of my law enforcement agencies—be it the RAB, the police, whatever; If someone commits any wrongdoing in our country, they will be judged. But no one is spared in this trial, said the Prime Minister.
Many times the members of the law and order force can over do some work, he said, ‘If they do, it is being judged according to the laws of our country. Where there is such a trial, where there is such a system, what is the reason for this sanction!’
Awami League president said, ‘We won the 2008 election and formed the government in 2009. All the elections since then, National Elections or Local Government Elections have been conducted smoothly and people have cast their votes spontaneously. Many have tried to raise questions about it, but what is the reality? People of Bangladesh are always aware of their right to vote. Someone stealing votes does not allow them to stay in power.
On February 15, 1996, Khaleda Zia stole the vote. But he could not last even a month and a half. On March 30, 1996, he was forced to resign due to public anger and agitation. Again in 2006, it created a voter list with 1 crore 23 lakh fake voters. Election was announced with that voter list, then emergency was declared. That election was cancelled. So the people of our country are now aware enough about voting,’ said the Awami League president.
He further said, ‘An election will be free, impartial, fair – it was our demand and we established it by the movement. Today, they are giving sanctions, more sanctions – they can, it is their wish but it is the right of the people of my country; Their right to vote, their right to rice, their right to live, their right to education, but we have guaranteed all the basic rights. From 2009 to 2023, Bangladesh is a changed Bangladesh.
‘Now there is no famine in Bangladesh. People don’t cry like that now. Even our unemployment has been reduced to only three percent now. That too people can work and eat if they want. Today’s Bangladesh is Digital Bangladesh. Wi-Fi connection all over Bangladesh, electricity in every house. We have made unprecedented development of roads, so that people can work and eat. We emphasize on technical education, vocational training. This is how we are working for the country. Intimidation of people with sanctions like this; Well, if America imposes sanctions, it cannot come to America, it will not come. What actually comes and goes! There are ample employment opportunities in my country now. So we see what they do. I don’t know why they have this sanction,’ he added.
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