Claiming that all elections during the current government were transparent and peaceful, prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday wondered why there were so many questions about the election.

‘If the people vote for us, we will come again here [to power]. Otherwise, we will go to the other side [the opposition side]. No problem. We are leaving it to the people to decide. It is up to the people. But all will have to remain alert so that this progress cannot be hampered; anyone can in no way play ducks and drakes with the voting rights of the people, and the democratic trend is not hampered,’ Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, said at the concluding speech of the 24th session of parliament.

‘Why question the elections when the country is progressing smoothly?’ she asked Stating that another session of parliament would be held in October, the prime minister said it would be the final session of the current parliament.

After that, the next national parliament election will be held. If the people vote in that election, we will stay this way [the government party]; if they don’t, we will go that way [the opposition party], she said. Hasina urged everyone, including the people of the country, to stay vigilant in the upcoming election.

‘No one can play with people’s right to vote. The democratic process should not be disrupted. The people of Bangladesh will no longer bow to any conspiracy,’ she said.

She claimed that the country was moving forward at a time when the whole world was experiencing an economic recession.

She said that all elections—by-elections and local government body polls—held during the current Awami League government had been free and fair.

‘Every election is a transparent and peaceful election. When has the election been more peaceful in Bangladesh or in any country in the world?’ she said.

She said that in many countries, opposition parties have not accepted the election yet. ‘Today, when we are conducting fair elections, few people are only questioning the elections. What does it mean? Today, when the country is moving forward economically, why is there a question about the election?’ she said.

Highlighting the role of the Awami League in the past democratic movement, the prime minister said that the Awami League was on the streets for people’s right to vote and rice.

‘If you look at the list of those martyrs, you will find the name of the Awami League. The struggle has given people back their right to vote; that is the most important thing,’ she said.

In response to various criticisms about the elections at home and abroad, she said, ‘Today, everyone is vocal about the election and transparency in the election. My question to all those countries that are talking about our country’s election and talking about free and fair elections. Where was your conscience during the repeated elections since 1975? I don’t know why this conscience did not shake them.’

Referring to the power generation of 3000 MW under the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the prime minister said that now the country is capable of producing 25,000 MW of electricity. But from time to time, some load-shedding has to be done.

‘And load shedding is good to have occasionally because people forget what the situation was. So, it is necessary to remind people of it sometimes. That’s why I said to the state minister for power, if you give a little load shedding, people will remember again,’ she said.