The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the people to vote for AL and its allies to curb corruption, to address militancy for building a prosperous and secular Bangladesh.

Hasina made this call while addressing a large public gathering at Narail on the last day of her election tour in the southern zone of the country accompanied by younger sister Sheikh Rehana and niece Azmina Siddique Rupanti.

In the meeting she introduced the grand alliance candidate Workers Party general secretary Bimal Biswas contesting the polls from Narail-1 constituency.

Hasina said, "The immediate past BNP-Jamaat government plundered the country's assets and transferred those abroad. Now time has come to take decision whether you will choose the plunderers or the pro-liberation force to safeguard the sovereignty and independence of the country."

She also pledged to introduce free education from graduate level and keeping the price of daily essentials within the buying capacity of the people, if AL is voted to power.

To the people of Narail Hasina said, "I am fully aware of the problems of the local people, as I was elected from this region at least two times in past. If AL was voted to power, I myself will take the responsibility to ensure the development of this region."

She also introduced another AL candidate SK Abu Baker, a retired Brig. Gen., contesting the polls from the constituency of Narail-2."

The AL workers and supporters assembled for the meeting on time marching in small processions and braving the biting cold and foggy weather.

She also addressed another public meeting at Jessore Eid-Gha Maidan, where she also alleged that at least 11,000 AL leaders and supporters were killed during the BNP-Jamaat government.

Referring to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's comments that the number of people attending in the AL rallies is poor, Hasina urged Khaleda Zia to come and see

the huge gathering at the meeting and said that if she did not come, a video footage of the meeting will be sent to her.

Indicating Khaleda she said, " she is too much angry after being failed to arrange a stage-managed farcical elections with 1.30 crore fake voters on January 22."

Hasina also thanked the caretaker government and the army for preparing a digital voter lists with photos. However, she said the caretaker government has failed to check the price-hike of essentials.

The Awami League president promised to construct a bridge over the Madhumati River between Gopalganj and Narail.

Hasina left Dhaka on the Victory Day to conduct electoral campaign in the southwest part of the country. She started campaign programmes from her home District Gopalgonj and ended at Jessore via Khulna, Bagerhat, Magura, and Faridpur.

She returned Dhaka last night after four days electoral campaign tour.

Hasina is scheduled to address public meeting at Kamringircahr and Motijeel in the capital today.