Staff Correspondent

Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said no one can survive in Bangladesh politics if they follow the suggestion of their foreign masters, in an apparent reference to the BNP.

"The BNP was out to foil the national election (held on 7 January). They have some [foreign] masters. They do not know the Bangladesh people. It will not be possible to survive in Bangladesh following masters' advice," she said.

The premier said this as the Awami League leaders and activists gathered at Ganabhaban in Dhaka to wish Sheikh Hasina on her party's landslide victory in the national polls, paving her way to become prime minister for the fourth consecutive term.

Younger daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and younger sister of the prime minister, Sheikh Rehana presented a bouquet to her elder sister Sheikh Hasina.

The premier said that they (AL) have no foreign masters as the people are their strength. "We have no [foreign] masters. The people of Bangladesh are our masters and our strength. The people's faith and confidence is our strength."

Despite conspiracies of the BNP-Jamaat clique to thwart the 12th parliamentary election, Sheikh Hasina said a free, fair, neutral and participatory election was held with spontaneous participation of the people.

"The 7 January election will be written in golden letters in the history of Bangladesh," she said, extending thanks to the people concerned including the Election Commission, law enforcement forces, and armed forces for holding a wonderful election.

She said the 7 January election was totally free, fair, disciplined, participatory, and competitive among the polls held after 1975. "We have proved that the election can be held in a free and fair manner under the Awami League government."

The prime minister asked the party leaders and workers to work in unison, forgetting everything for the welfare of the country and its people.

The Awami League president said many of the party-nominated candidates have been defeated by independent candidates, even though they thought they would win.

Mentioning that conspiracies are being hatched to cash in on the differences among the party men, she said, "So, work shoulder to shoulder for the welfare of the country and its people forgetting everything by showing respect to the people's mandate."

The premier commended the spontaneous participation of the women in the election, saying it is the outcome of ensuring women’s empowerment.

In this connection, she said a 130-year-old woman cast her vote for “Boat” in her Tungipara-Kotalipara constituency.

Quoting the elderly woman, she said, "I want to cast my vote for Sheikh Hasina for the last time."

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the central executive body of the party led by its general secretary greeted prime minister and party president Sheikh Hasina with a bouquet.

The Awami League has bagged 222 seats out of 298 in the 12th parliamentary polls. The newly-elected lawmakers will take oath at the Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat at 10am on Wednesday.

Sheikh Hasina said the BNP leaders and activists have now become frustrated as their party boycotted the election.

She said the BNP-Jamaat clique has tried time and again to foil elections in 2014 and 2018.

"But they had failed," she said, adding that the same thing happened to them this time too as the people took part in the election spontaneously.

The non-participation of some political parties in the election does not matter, she said, adding that the participation of the masses matters. "If the people do not want the Awami League in power, we will abide by their mandate."

Sheikh Hasina that the masses dislodged the BNP government within one and a half months as they assumed power through vote rigging in the 15 February 1996 election.

They tried to come to power through manipulation in 2006 after incorporating 1.23 crore fake voters into the voter list and the people of the country made their attempt unsuccessful. "The people of Bangladesh never accept any injustice."

The prime minister reiterated her pledge to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous, and smart country by 2041.