Catch vote-buyers, hand them over to police: Hasina

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Awami League President Sheikh Hasina in a televised speech Saturday vowed to the people of the country to establish a Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty, taking a lesson from their own past mistakes as well as those of rivals, reports bdnews24.com.
"Not only from mistakes of rivals, we want to take a positive lesson also from our own mistakes," Hasina said reading through her written speech.
Campaigns for the ninth parliamentary elections came to an end on Dec 27 midnight with the two major alliance chiefs Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia delivering televised speeches to the nation Saturday evening.
Hasina began her TV address at 8:30 pm and Khaleda later.
The two former prime ministers also addressed the two largest rallies of the campaign period, on consecutive days at Paltan Maidan.
Earlier addressing separate meetings in Comilla district on the day, Sheikh Hasina alleged what she said, BNP led 4-party alliance is trying to buy votes using money looted during five years rule, to come to power again.
"Catch those who come to buy vote and asked them who has given the money before handing them over to police," she said.
Using black money, AL chief said: BNP-Jamat alliance wanted to return to power to continue their misrule. She asked the people to remain cautious about the evil efforts of the black money-holders.
Hundreds of people including women and children, despite chilly weather, carrying banners, festoons and replica of boat, the election symbol of Awami League, welcomed Hasina and chanted slogans seeking vote for boat.
The former prime minister assured the people that if AL led grand alliance are voted to power, prices of essentials would be cut down within the purchasing capacity of the people. We had kept the prices of essentials at tolerable level during our five years rule from 1996, she said, on other hand BNP-Jamat made their fortune by increasing prices of commodities by forming syndicates.
Describing her party manifesto, she said, education would be made free up to degree level, fertiliser will be available at markets for farmers, health-services will reach at doorsteps of the commoners by setting up community clinics and ensure jobs for unemployed youth.
In an emotion chocked voice, Hasina said, one of the killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman hailed from this area." I'm asking why they had killed my innocent younger brother Russel? They are also trying to kill me several times by grenade attacks. I'm giving you commitment that I will continue my fight to ensure basic needs -food, cloth, education and shelter -- of the helpless and poor people as my father sacrificed his life for the wellbeing of the nation," she said.
She asked the people to erase the names of the killers by casting vote for boat and free the country from terrorism, militancy and misrule that the nation witnessed during BNP-Jamat rule.
Hasina introduced Major General (retd) Subid Ali Bhuiyan for Comilla- 1, Professor Ali Ashraf for Comilla-7, ABM Golam Mostafa for Comilla- 4 and Jahangir Alam Sarkar for Comilla-3. She made a brief stay at Alekhar Char, on Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Comilla and addressed a meeting in support of AKM Baharuddin Bahar for Comilla-5 and Captain (retd) Tajul Islam for Comilla-9.
Sheikh Hasina addressed election projection meeting on way to port city Chittagong at Feni, Chhagalnaiya, Mirersharai and Shitakunda before joining the mammoth rally at the historic Laldighi Maidan.