DHAKA, Aug 6, 2023 (BSS) – Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today said people’s power is the strength of her party while it was accountable to the people alone.

"People's power is the strength of Awami League. Awami League has no master other than the people. We are only accountable to the people,” she told a special extended meeting of the party.

Sheikh Hasina said Awami League only works for the countrymen’s welfare in line with its electoral commitment.

“How much we have been able to do and what we will do in future; we tell the people alone, not to anyone else,” she told the meeting held at the premier’s official Ganabhaban residence during her introductory speech.

“I want everyone to work together keeping this in mind.”

AL central working committee and advisory council members, party MPs, presidents and general secretaries of district, municipal and upazila units, metropolitan cities, district and upazila parishad chairmen, mayors, presidents and general secretaries of AL associate organisations were present in the meeting.

The number of attendees was around 5,000.

Sheikh Hasina, however, directed the AL leaders and activists to highlight the government achievements in the last 14 and a half years before the people at grassroots.

Simultaneously, she asked them to strengthen the party ahead of the upcoming elections saying they would have to earn the trust and confidence of the masses.

Party official said Awami League calls such extended meetings months ahead of every general elections and a nearly identical meeting was held on June 23, 2017 ahead of the 2018 parliamentary polls.

The prime minister said Bangladesh is now attaining the status of a "developing nation" by the United Nations as Awami League is in power and it has worked with a long plan for it.
 
Mentioning that Bangladesh will begin its journey as a developing nation in 2026, she said, "I would like to know from the people of the country that whether they want Bangladesh to move forward with the status of a developing country”.
 
She also directed the AL leaders and activities to ask people about the journey of the developing nation of Bangladesh, as they (the people) are the owners of the votes. 

"If they want Bangladesh to go ahead with the status of a developing nation and to be established, then they should vote for Awami League's electoral symbol boat," she said.

"And it (implementation of a developing nation) will be possible if AL is voted to power, and no one else can do it," she added.

Sheikh Hasina said AL is working to change the fate of people of all professions, including blacksmiths, potters (Kumar), weavers, and fishermen, adding, "We are committed to working for everyone." 

AL has worked for every person, the premier said, adding, "No one else has ever thought or acted for people before".

She as well asked her party leaders and activists to convey these messages to the people and strengthen the organization at the same time. 

"We will build the Golden Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," she said. 

The prime minister said the fortune of the countrymen has changed as AL is in power today.

Her party as well changed the fate of Bangladesh, she also said.

"There are some people who are robbers, corrupts, and murderers. Actually Khaleda Zia, Tareque Zia and Ziaur Rahman are all murderers. . . The countrymen are not safe in their hands, the country is not safe either," she observed.

"Therefore, my request to you (leaders and activists of AL and associate organisations) is to highlight to the people all the development works that have been made by AL after assuming power," she added.

She said once "manga" continued to take place in Rangpur that had people suffer.

"But, after AL assumed power, there was no Manga there. There is no famine. The reason is that AL is an organization founded by Father of the Nation," the premier said.
 
She continued: "When AL is in power, it works for the people, stands by the people, and improves the fate of the people."

At the outset of the meeting, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also spoke, while Barrister Biplab Barua placed a condolence motion.