Re-elected party chief, Sheikh Hasina eyes third term

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was on Sunday re-elected unopposed as the ruling Awami League’s president, asked cadres to reach out to the people to ensure that the party returned to power for a third successive term.

Addressing the party’s National Council, she said, “Awami League must come back to power to take the nation forward towards its goal of becoming a poverty-free nation.”

The Awami League came to power in the December 2008 polls and returned to power in the January 2014 polls for a second successive term.

Ms Hasina, 69, began addressing the councillors’ session by stressing on the next national elections.

“The polls are coming... For a third win, we need to reach out to the people and tell them about the development done during our tenure,” she said. “We need to make the people realise that Awami League in power would ensure socio-economic development.”

Ms Hasina said she wanted “honesty” among party activists. “As long as I am alive, I want to elect a leader to strengthen the party,” she said.

Ms Hasina, who has been heading Awami League since 1981, had said recently that she would be “happy” to retire given the opportunity and if the party manages to find a new leader.

Awami leaders, however, insist that there’s no alternative to Ms Hasina, bdnews24.Com reported.