Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged party leaders to be united and not to get involved in any conflict centering on the 12th parliamentary election.
“We participated in the election together, where some of us won and some of us were defeated. Now we must move on with all our joy, sorrow, pain and tears ,” Sheikh Hasina said at a joint meeting of the Awami League’s Central Executive Committee, Advisory Council and the presidents and general secretaries of Dhaka city units and associate bodies on Monday afternoon.
She urged her party men to work together, leaving behind the result of the last election where Awami League candidates and independent candidates from the Awami League competed in some regions of the country.
“Everyone has to work together again for the benefit of the common people. We should not lose the trust that we have gained from people,” added the premier.
She said: “The party is the biggest asset. No achievement is possible without the party. Behind every success, there is a strength. My strength is the people of Bangladesh, the Awami League and our associate organizations.”
Regarding the 12th parliamentary polls, the prime minister said that there were many plots and conspiracies to foil the election but it was still successful.
“We have held elections despite all conspiracies. We always give party nominations in elections, but we made the election field open apart from giving party nominations. Our party is a big party and many people wanted to contest in the poll, so we made this decision. Of those who have participated in the election, some of them have won and some have not. In that case, I would request everyone to stop blaming each other,” she added.
The prime minister also said: “Apart from our party, several other parties participated in the polls. The support we have received from the people is a recognition of our work. We have worked for the people of the country, who voted for us.”
Urging party leaders and activists to be vigilant, Sheikh Hasina said: “Everyone should be aware of arsonists who burned common people by setting fire to buses and trains.”
The Awami League president also said: “The people of Bangladesh have rejected the BNP and cast their votes for the Awami League, boycotting the BNP’s call against the election,”
The leaders of the Awami League and its associated bodies welcomed Sheikh Hasina with bouquets on her being elected as prime minister of Bangladesh for the fifth time.
This was the first time the Awami League president visited the party office after forming the government following the 12th parliamentary elections.
Corruption in public procurement will not be tolerated
Addressing the maiden cabinet meeting of the new government on Monday, the prime minister issued a directive to ensure transparency and accountability in all areas, including public procurement.
Any kind of corruption and irregularity will not be tolerated, she said.
Mentioning that corruption is not good for the country, she said: "We will utilize whatever resources we have appropriately, and we will move ahead maintaining financial discipline."
Sheikh Hasina added: "Our resources are limited but the population is large. We have to do the welfare of the people with our limited resources."
The prime minister also reissued her directive to check the wastage of public money and maintain austerity in every sphere of life, even in taking up any kind of development project.
Furthermore, she reiterated her call to keep the prices of essentials under close monitoring and to take measures to control drug use.
