Khaleda pledges to construct Padma Bridge

FE Team | Published: December 15, 2008 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

RAJBARI, Dec 14 (UNB): BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, now on a campaign trail in southwestern districts, Sunday promised to construct the Padma Bridge and check river erosion if her party is voted to power in the parliamentary election slated for December 29.
She also pledged to boost agriculture production by providing subsidy to agri-inputs and loans to peasants on easy terms, employment for women through training and free education for female students up to Degree level.
The former Prime Minister made the pledges while addressing election rallies at Rajbari Railway ground seeking vote for BNP candidate Ali
Newaz Mahmud and at Pangsha High School ground for BNP candidate Nasirul Huq Sabu.
Khaleda urged the people, particularly the female voters, to turn up to the polling centres early in the morning after performing their Fazr prayers and cast their votes for "sheaf of paddy', her party's election symbol.
"Your vote is precious," she told her audience and said that the losses caused to the national economy in the last two years under caretaker government would be recovered through their votes.
Referring to the cancellation of the parliament elections slated for January 22, 2007, the BNP said it was a conspiracy against "our efforts to make Bangladesh self-reliant."
She said the caretaker government could not give anything to the nation in the last two years. A democratically elected government can bring welfare for the people.
The BNP chairperson is scheduled to address election rallies during the day in Kushtia, Meherpur, Magura and Jessore. She will have night halt at Jessore and proceed to Khulna today (Monday).
BSS adds from Manikganj: BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia called for united efforts by all ending misunderstanding in the political arena to improve the lot of common people.
"We need to form an effective parliament and work together to develop Bangladesh as a strong state," she said addressing a public meeting at Tepra College ground in Shibalaya upazila in the district.
BNP secretary general Khondaker Delwar Hossain, also the party candidate from the Manikganj-1 constituency in the December 29 parliament election, also addressed the rally.
At the public rallies, Khaleda Zia urged the people to vote for the BNP candidate to improve their lot and ensure development of the country.
The jubilant audience responded positively by chanting slogans and waving banners, placards, festoons and BNP's poll symbol 'sheaf of paddy'.
Begum Zia urged leaders and activists of her party as well as the people to remain alert so that no indiscipline can be created at polling centres or vote rigging take place on December 29.
She said the 9th parliamentary polls could be held two years ago, but the election was foiled in face of conspiracies hatched by those who could sense their defeat.
There were conspiracies too during the last two years to destroy the BNP, but the plotters were not successful, she added.
Begum Zia said conspiracies are going on against the country to make it a week, subservient and failed state. These plots must be resisted unitedly, she added.
Referring to price hike and unemployment, she said an elected government is an imperative to resolve those problems.
The former prime minister said the pledges in the election manifesto of the BNP, which was announced yesterday, would be implemented properly, if the party is voted to power.