Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said she faced “foreign” pressure to sell country’s natural gas to other countries during her rule between 1996 and 2001 but did not give in.
“I as the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman neither yielded to any pressure nor agreed to sell gas,” said the former premier without naming the pressure group.
Hasina was addressing several election rallies on her three-day tour to South including Tungipara, Gopalganj through which she started her election campaign outside Dhaka.
She was accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana and Rehana’s daughter Azmina Siddiqui Ruponti.
Addressing a rally at Sreenagar Stadium under Munshiganj-1 constituency, the AL chief said gas would be utilised for internal use. “First the volume of natural resources will have to be determined and then explored for public use.”
Thousands of party leaders, activists, supporters and commoners joined the rallies carrying party’s electoral symbol ‘Boat’ and chanted slogans in support of Hasina-led grand alliance.
They also stood in long queues on both sides of Hasina’s travel routes in different places. Tight security measures were taken by SSF, Rab and police to ensure her safety.
Pointing to the youths Hasina said, “The Awami League-led grand alliance has set the vision 2021 for the youth. We want to build a digital Bangladesh where people will get a developed life free from crime and misrule and face the challenge of the 21st century.”
“You choose whether you want anarchy and terrorism or peace and stability, food-deficiency or food-sufficiency, and cast your vote on December 29,” Hasina said. “If you want to see a self-respected and developed Bangladesh, cast your vote in favour of the grand alliance.”
She also pledged to establish Bangladesh as the most peaceful nation in South Asia.
Addressing rallies in Munshiganj-1 and 2 and Faridpur-4 constituencies, Hasina promised to construct Padma bridge, if voted to power, to facilitate export-import through Mongla Port.
She also pledged to take effective steps to save Munsiganj from river erosion through dredging of adjacent rivers and digging canals.
Asking locals to set up industries, Hasina said if elected to power, her government would give interest-free loans to that end.
Hasina also introduced candidates Sukumar Ranjon Ghosh of Munshiganj-1 and Sagufta Yasmin Emily of Munshiganj-2 to the people.
Holding the previous BNP-led alliance government responsible for price hikes, she reiterated her election pledges including decreasing prices of essentials, curbing terrorism, generating new jobs and ensuring uninterrupted power supply.
In another rally at Baligaon High School premises in Bhanga, Faridpur Hasina introduced Nilufar Zafarullah as the grand alliance candidate for Faridpur-4 constituency.
She also introduced Col (retd) Faruk Khan as the led grand alliance candidate for Gopalganj-1 constituency at a rally in Moksedpur.
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