Full electronic voting system in future
Prime minister tells expats in Tokyo
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addresses a luncheon arranged by Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary League in Tokyo yesterday. Photo: PID
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government wants to make the country's voting system fully electronic to arrange the future elections in a flawless manner. “Recently, I've talked to the Chief Election Commissioner. I told him to make the country's voting system fully electronic,” she said. The prime minister was addressing a reception programme arranged by the Bangladeshi community living in Japan at the conference room of Hotel New Otani in Tokyo. Hasina further said her government is ready to give as much money as required to introduce the fully electronic voting (e-voting) system. She said the last caretaker government had committed many misdeeds, but its one good work was that it made a flawless voter list identifying all fake voters. The prime minister vowed to continue to work for further strengthening the democratic system in the country. “There is no example in the world that military rule has been successful to develop a nation. Without democratic government, a nation cannot progress,” she said. She alleged that the military rulers encouraged corruption in the society to cling to state power for a long time. Reiterating her government's firm stands for global and national peace, the prime minister said her government's fight against terrorism and corruption will continue. “We want to a build Bangladesh as a country of peace, honesty and transparency.” She said during the last BNP-Jamaat government, Bangladesh was known in the world as a country of corruption and militancy. “But we have able to restore the country's image as a country of democracy and peace.” Spelling out their massive plans and projects for infrastructure development, Hasina said the long-awaited Padma Bridge will be constructed within the tenure of the present government. In this regard, she mentioned her last government had taken initiative to construct the Rupsha Bridge, but the next BNP-Jamaat government stopped the project on political grounds. On electricity, the prime minister blamed the last BNP-Jamaat alliance government for the present power crisis. “If they (BNP-Jamaat) had worked to increase electricity generation, the present power crisis would not exist,” she said. She said the last Awami League government had increased the power generation from 1,600 MW to 4,300 MW, but when her government took office this time electricity generation was found at only 3,100 MW. Hasina informed that her government has already taken initiative to set up 30 power plants while a decision has also been taken to build 10 more power plants. “Insha-Allah, we'll be able to remove power crisis,” she said. She said the present government has been able to restore congenial investment atmosphere and progress of economy in the country. The prime minister mentioned that at present, the country's foreign exchange reserve is nearly US$ 12 billion while foreign remittances have reached US$ 11 billion. She said about 92 percent of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) was implemented last fiscal year. She said the government is going to introduce the 6th Five-Year Plan for expediting national development. “You, either as citizen of Bangladesh or an expatriate, can invest in various sectors,” she told the expatriates. Describing Japan as a country of dreams, Hasina said Bangladesh could take Japan as a model of being highly industrialised country from an agriculture-based country. “Bangladesh is now an agriculture-dependant country. If we work hard with patriotism and dedication, our Bangladesh can also be turned into a modern industrialised country like Japan.” She said to bring more pace in the national economy, the government is giving top priority to the development of communication network. Besides, projects are being implemented to turn the country into a digital one, she said, adding, “Now you can obtain information about your village or union parishad through internet from the web portals.” The prime minister urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to uphold the nation's image through good deeds. Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and Advisers to the prime minister Prof Alauddin Ahmed and Dr Mashiur Rahman also addressed the programme.
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