The Awami League’s landslide win in the 11th parliamentary elections is largely attributed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s dynamic leadership, her humility and the people’s rejection of anti-liberation forces.
A day after the party’s massive victory in the December 30 general elections, a number of the party leaders told the Dhaka Tribune that the party, which has been in power for the last 10 years, also succeeded to read the pulse of young voters and rightly reflected their aspirations in its manifesto.
The Awami League-led Grand Alliance made an overwhelming win by bagging 288 out of 298 constituencies, results of which have been announced by the Election Commission. On the contrary, BNP-led Jatiya Oikya Front could secure only seven seats.
Awami League presidium member Pijush Kanti Bhattacharjee told the Dhaka Tribune: “Sheikh Hasina set a rare example by sheltering over a million Rohingya people, who were forcibly driven out from their homeland Myanmar.”
He said only Sheikh Hasina has the courage to accept her mistakes. “Everyone makes mistakes, but Sheikh Hasina has the humility to accept her’s.” He thought that the Awami League president’s courage to accept mistakes has impressed voters to vote for boat – for the third time in a row.
On December 18, the party unveiled their election manifesto having clear visions on rural development and youth-centric activities that attracted the new and young voters, said the Awami League leader.
The party’sjoint general secretary, Abdur Rahman, said Sheikh Hasina has been able to attract the young voters by engaging with them through a dialogue program right before the elections.
“The Awami League president always dreamt of building a country for the younger generation, and her dedication to country has impressed the new voters to vote for her,” Rahman said, adding that people rejected BNP because of its ties with anti-liberation forces like Jamaat-e-Islami.
He also cited mega development projects like the Padma Bridge, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the metro-rail as the reasons behind the landslide win.
According to Awami League Information and Research Secretary Afzal Hussain, the party’s success came from their 80-page manifesto titled “Bangladesh on Path to Progress and Prosperity.”
He said: “Awami League’s 21 special pledges in the election manifesto, such as providing modern civic amenities to all villages, turning the young population into a skilled labour force and ensuring employment, power for all, and ensuring human rights has prompted the people to vote for boat.”
Awami LeagueExecutive Committee member Iqbal Hossain Apu said picking the right candidates helped Awami League to win the polls.