B’desh PM Sheikh Hasina reelected Awami League chief

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was on Sunday reelected unopposed as the ruling Awami League’s president, asked cadres to reach out to the people to ensure that the party is 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 December 2008 polls and returned to power in the January 2014 polls for a second successive term.

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,” she said. Hasina said she wants “honesty” among party activists.

“As long as I am alive, I want to elect a leader to strengthen the party,” she said. But that evoked a negative reaction from the councillors who said “No, no”.