PM firm on e-voting in next parliament polls
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday reiterated her firm determination to introduce electronic voting system and strengthen the Election Commission in a bid to hold the next parliamentary elections in a free, fair and credible manner.
"Electronic voting system will be introduced to ensure one person one vote," she said while addressing a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital. E-voting system is in operation in South Asia except Bangladesh and Pakistan, the premier added.
On the much-talked-about caretaker government system, she said lawmakers can't make it legal when the Supreme Court declared it illegal.
Ruling Awami League organised the discussion marking the Six Point day with party presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in the chair.
Hasina also asked her political arch-rival BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia why she is so crazy about caretaker system. She reminded Khaleda that the last caretaker chief Fakhruddin Ahmed, president Iajuddin Ahmed and the then army chief Gen Moeen U Ahmed were close to her, but she had to go to prison and her sons had to leave the country after being beaten up.
"Did you [Khaleda] forget what happened after 1/11? Iajuddin, Fakhruddin and Moeen Uddin were your men, not ours. Even after that you were put in jail," Hasina said.
The premier added the leader of the opposition does not accept anything including the highest court's verdict. "She only aspires for power so that she could continue her earlier habit of resorting to corruption," Hasina added.
Referring to the by-polls, city corporation, municipality and Union Parishad elections held under her government, Hasina said those elections were held in a free and fair manner. She added AL does not aspire for grabbing power under any circumstances. "We have trust on people and they will vote anyone to power whom they [people] choose."
AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam urged BNP to return to parliament for a dialogue on the caretaker government system.
AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzaq, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Abdul Latif Siddiqui, Mahabubul Alam Hanif, among others, also spoke.
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