Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged the MPs-elect of BNP to join Parliament for the sake of democracy and to utilise the scope for their return to constructive politics.

‘BNP should join Parliament for the sake of democracy accepting its defeat in the election,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said this in her introductory speech at a joint meeting of Awami League Advisory Council and Central Working Committee at the party’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office here, reports the UNB.

The meeting was held with Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. 

She also asked the BNP high-ups to take the right decision to practise democracy considering the status of the party, including lack of proper leadership, anti-independence destructive politics, organisational weakness and nomination trading.

‘They (BNP-led Oikyafront) have to accept the defeat in the election as they were incapable to pick their leader, lost the support of people for their politics of killing. BNP lost the election for running the party by an absconding fugitive,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the most remarkable side of this election was the enthusiasm of voters, especially the youth, new voters and women, in casting their votes.

She mentioned that the election was very much peaceful although BNP-Jamaat alliance snatched ballot papers and boxes in some places and hatched conspiracies to foil the election. 

‘But they failed and BNP suffered defeat in the election…this is their failure… they have to blame themselves for this,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina said although BNP suffered the defeat for lack of leadership, the scenario might have been better had they not indulged in nomination trade.

Expressing gratitude to the people of the country for putting their trust and confidence once again in AL, Hasina said this landslide win has increased its responsibility to the people a lot.

‘We’ve only one thing [in mind] that we’ve to implement all of our development programmes to improve the socioeconomic status of people. We’ve to think what sort of programmes we would take to improve the lifestyle of people,’ she said.

The Prime Minister said the government will celebrate the golden jubilee of Independence and birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from March 2020-March 2021 locally and internationally.

She thanked the people of the country to give the AL the opportunity to celebrate the two big events staying in the government.

About the government’s future plan, she said rural people will get urban facilities. ‘The socioeconomic condition of the country is improving and it’ll. The income disparity will be reduced, the fate of the grassroots will be upgraded…we’re taking programmes keeping those in mind.’ 

Hasina hoped that the peaceful situation in the country will prevail and Bangladesh will march forward by maintaining peace.

She also put emphasis on strengthening Awami League further.