DHAKA, Dec 30, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today expressed her firm confidence about her party’s victory in the 11th parliamentary polls, but he said simultaneously that the Awami League was ready to accept whatever the verdict comes.

“I’m always confident about our victory in the elections … I trust my people and I know that they will choose us so that they can get a better life in future,” she told reporters after casting vote at Dhaka City College Centre at Dhanmondi here this morning.

Sheikh Hasina added: “I think that the victory of independence and the Liberation War spirit will be made … the pro-Liberation Forces must be victorious.”

Replying to a question about acceptance of the election results, the AL chief said her party believes in democracy and the people’s strength. “So, we would accept whatever decision the people will give,” she said.

Seeking vote again to the countrymen for boat, the AL’s electoral symbol, the prime minister expressed her firm belief that they will reelect her party to keep up Bangladesh’s development.

“Bangladesh has started its journey towards the highway of development and I believe that the people will cast vote for boat to continue the uplift spree and give another scope to serve them,” she said.

“We hope that we’ll be able to turn Bangladesh into a more developed and prosperous country by implementing the projects that we undertook … I think boat will be surely victorious,” she added.

Pointing out that her party wants a free, fair and peaceful election, the AL president said: “We don’t want any violence, we want that the people will cast their vote peacefully which is their fundamental right … they will give vote and make victorious as per their wish.”

In this connection, the premier urged all voters, candidates and parties to have patience. “If we can hold the elections peacefully, whatever party comes to power, it will continue the pace of uplift,” she hoped.

Putting emphasis on maintaining development in the country, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh Awami League liberated the country under the leadership of Bangabandhu.

“The country is witnessing a massive development since Awami League was voted to power. Now Bangladesh is a developing country and I’ve firm belief that we’ll be able to transform Bangladesh into Sonar Bangla as dreamt by
Bangabandhu by bringing smiles on the faces of the distressed people,” she said.

Blasting the BNP-Jamaat nexus for killing 10 AL leaders and workers across the country ahead of the polls, the prime minister said it is very regretful that four leaders of her party were brutally murdered by the BNP-Jamaat
yesterday.

“Our 10 leaders and workers including Patnitala AL president of Naogaon were killed by the BNP-Jamaat cadres in the last couple of days,” she said.

About the election atmosphere in the country, the AL president said her party expects a free, fair and peaceful  election. “But, she said, the people had fought much in exercising their franchise in the past during the military rules,” she said.

The prime minister said after coming to power her party always tries to hold elections peacefully. “We’ve created a congenial atmosphere so that the people can cast their votes without any hindrance,” she said.

“I’m sure that this time the elections will be held in a free, fair and peaceful manner,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina, however, mentioned some incidents ahead of the polls and said that 10 AL leaders and were workers were brutally killed by the BNP- Jamaat terrorists. “The BNP-Jamaat are terrorist parties and they always indulge in terrorism and corruption,” she said.

The AL president concluded her reactions about the ongoing polls by showing victory sign to the reporters.

Earlier, the prime minister cast her vote as the first voter of Dhaka City College centre around 8 in the morning.

Accompanied by her sister Sheikh Rehana and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, Sheikh Hasina wearing a paste coloured sharee appeared at the centre at 7:55 am amid tight security and cast her vote on the second floor of Dhaka City College centre.

Barrister Sheikh Fazley Noor Taposh, who is contesting the polls on the Awami League ticket from Dhaka-10 constituency, was present on the occasion.