In a public gathering organized by the Dhaka North and South units of the Awami League at the Kalabagan ground in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, on Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the president of the Awami League, stated, "We earn people's votes by winning their hearts; there is no need for theft. They (Jiya and Ershad) steal votes, not me. The High Court has ruled that Jiya's power is illegitimate, and Ershad's power is also illegitimate."
Sheikh Hasina made these remarks at the Awami League's election rally, addressing the gathering of thousands of party supporters at Dhaka's Kalabagan Maidan on Monday.
Sheikh Hasina said, "In 2013-14, people were set on fire, but they couldn't stop the elections. In the 2018 elections, they tried to buy nominations. Tareq Zia nominates candidates, Fakhruddin nominates candidates from Gulshan, and Rizvi nominates candidates from the Paltan office. As a result of selling nominations, their elections are disrupted. They blame us for their faults."
The Awami League president further stated, "Despite this, the Awami League has restored the right to vote. Our party workers have suffered extreme atrocities for the right to vote and rice. We have been tortured in the district, but the Awami League government has made the Election Commission independent."
Earlier in the day, at 3 p.m., Sheikh Hasina arrived at the Kalabagan ground in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, for the election rally organized by the Awami League ahead of the 12th national parliamentary elections.
