“We’ve set an instance that election can be free, fair and neutral. You (observers and journalists) have come and witnessed how the people cast vote in our country.” she said while exchanging views with foreign journalists and election observers at Ganabhaban, following the 12th parliamentary election.

Sheikh Hasina said, “This victory is not my victory. I think that this victory is the victory of the people of this country.”

She said that the country’s people have elected her party by voting for it in this election, where many independent candidates and some contenders from other parties were also elected.

Mentioning that the people have elected her party by voting spontaneously, she said, “We’d taken all sorts of measures to hold the election in fair manners as you witnessed it.”

The Prime Minister said her victory is the victory of the people as the voting rights and power of the people to choose the government were applied in a fair manner through this election, as she and her party had been struggling to establish those rights.

Pointing to BNP, she said a party didn’t participate in the election as they are afraid of contesting the direct election, adding: “The party that was founded in the hands of military dictators can’t move on their own. They don’t have public support. So, they scare of the direct election.”

Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter and Sheikh Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana, Bangabandhu’s grandchildren Saima Wazed and Radwan Mujib Siddiq were, among others, were present.

In the 12th general elections, Bangladesh Awami League clinched a landslide victory with over two-thirds majority, giving the AL-led 14-party alliance another chance to form the government for the fourth consecutive terms.

The massive victory has paved the way for Awami League President Sheikh Hasina to lead the government as Prime Minister for the fifth time and fourth time in a row.

The Election Commission so far announced unofficially the results of 298 parliamentary seats out of the 300 where election was held in a free and fair manner.

According to the unofficial results, the AL bagged 222 seats alone while Jatiya Party secured 11 seats. Independent candidates secured second highest 62 seats and Jasod, Bangladesh Kalyan Party and Bangladesh Workers’ Party got one seat each.

Voting in Naogaon-2 constituency was postponed due to death of an independent candidate earlier. EC will announce the result of Mymensingh-3 constituency later as the polling in one centre was postponed.

-BSS.