Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday cast her vote in the Dhaka South City Corporation election and called upon activists of the ruling Awami League to accept the result whatever it is.
"The Awami League will surely accept people's mandate," said the Prime Minister adding, "We do politics for people."
Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League, said this in response to a query by journalists as she emerged from Dhaka City College polling centre after casting her vote.
As the first voter of the polling centre, Sheikh Hasina cast her vote at Dhanmondi under Ward No. 15 in DSCC. She arrived at the centre at about 7.55 am and came out of it around 8:05 am casting her vote.
Urging the people to cast their votes peacefully, Sheikh Hasina expressed the hope that the pro-Awami League backed candidates would win the city corporations elections.
"I hope that our candidates meaning that the candidates whom I gave vote would win," she said, mentioning that she cast vote for the symbols of 'hilsha', "kite" and "betel leaf".
Talking to journalists, the Prime Minister said it is of course a matter of happiness to exercise voting franchise in a peaceful atmosphere which is free from any interference and fear.
Referring to five city corporation elections held few years back when AL-backed candidates were defeated, Sheikh Hasina mentioned that her party accepted that results.
"The people cast their votes for the candidates they choose. I have nothing to say in this regard," she observed.
Sheikh Hasina said the government has ensured the right to expression of opinions by all and the voters are now enjoying freedom of casting their votes, she noted.
Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said Awami League is always respectful of the people's mandate. But, BNP terms an election fair only when it wins and rejects it if it goes against its favour.
Responding to another question about the BNP's threat that they will stage movement again, if their candidates are defeated in the three city corporation polls, the Prime Minister criticized BNP for such a stance.
"It means that BNP won't give importance to the people's opinion. They won't accept the results as they are not respectful to the people's judgment," she said.
"It would be good if their candidates win, otherwise they would go for movement -- what type of attitude is it?" she questioned.
Issuing a strong warning against the BNP's threat of waging movement, Sheikh Hasina said her government won't allow anybody to play ducks and drakes with the life of the people.