October 2022 Full PDF final

POLITICS
HEAT ON THE GROUND
AL SENSES VIOLENCE, BNP
GEARS INTO ELECTION MODE
LOOKING BACK AT PREVIOUS POLITICAL TURMOIL
In the 2014 parliamentary elections, the Awami League (AL) won 232 of the 300 seats. In addition, to boycott
the election, the opposition BNP ran a campaign to lower voter turnout. They consequently lost the election.
BNP allegedly ruined the nation's peace and created unrest to stop the election. As a result, many BNP leaders
were arrested for to curb the spread of violence. After the election, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina adopted
a firm stance, declaring that she would not enter negotiations until the opposition stop inciting violence.
"Today, democracy is soiled by the blood of innocent people and soaked by the tears of burnt people, who
have fallen victim to the violent political programs that were hammering the nation's conscience," PM Hasina
had declared after the election. ” The army was to curb any post-poll terrorism and violence with heavy
fists," PM Hasina continued.
-MD. EMRAN HOSSAIN
As the 12th national parliamentary election is scheduled
within 14 months or so, Bangladesh is fastmoving
towards an election that is already under
scanner in terms of transparency, inclusiveness and
democratic practices. The whole atmosphere leading
to the ensuing elections is now being closely
watched on a global scale. The Election Commission
(EC) has already taken several actions coupled with
the government’s apparent will to make the next national
elections freer, fairer and further participatory.
With the national polls ahead, one can see that the
BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist party) has recently
geared up ground activities, which give impression
that the party is perhaps preparing for the next parliamentary
polls while inviting a sort of vibrancy in
the country’s field of politics. This has made the
government anticipate a political atmosphere to be
heated up centring over the next election, while also
poses some extra challenges for the EC like establishing
trust, guaranteeing impartiality of the local
government, garnering faith in computerised voting
equipment, managing the contenders, tackling
all sorts of unrest in the process, preventing use of
black money and intimidation during polls, and preserving
law and order throughout the election phase.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE LAST DECADE
Currently, Awami League is in the fourth term of premiership by winning for the third consecutive term
directed by PM Sheikh Hasina. Climbing every ladder of fame, tradition, hardship, and triumph, the ruling
party has reached its 73rd year. With Hasina at the helm of the Awami League as president, and Prime Minister,
Bangladesh has not only joined the ranks of the developing nations, but it has also become an economic
development model for the rest of the world.
Major developments:
Bangladesh is now attaining 7% average GDP (gross
domestic product) growth, surpassing the benchmark
of the Lower Middle-Income status in 2015
because of the exceptional social, economic, and political
leadership of PM Sheikh Hasina. There have
been various mega-projects included in the country's
development through the last 12 years. To overhaul
the nation's electrical, transportation, and communication
infrastructure, the Awami League government
launched several enormous construction projects
after taking office in 2009. Ten megaprojects
in total were chosen for fast-tracking because they
would significantly influence the economy and the
general welfare of the public.
Seven of the eight mega projects; Padma Bridge,
Padma Rail Link, Metro Rail, Chattogram- Cox's Bazar
Rail Link, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Matarbari
Power Plant, and Payra Deep Sea Port are vitally
important to the nation's economic growth, thus the
government's top priority right now is their prompt
completion.
Not only infrastructural developments, but the country
has also excelled in agriculture, health, ICT, education,
shelter, food, transportation, gender equality,
child welfare, financial inclusion etc. Additionally,
the country's shipping system will undergo significant
transformation with the Payra deep-sea port
project. By launching Bangabandhu Satellite, the
country has successfully claimed its own space, and
it has been working well since its launch. Elevated
Expressway construction is underway to relieve traffic
congestion in the capital city and its surroundings.
Moreover, the aviation industry of Bangladesh
is taking a new shape with infrastructural and security
developments. With the aim to facilitate the
citizens and transform the fate of the country, the
govt. of PM Hasina has worked relentlessly and no
citizen denies the fact.
Police and protesting opposition activists in a brawl during a rally in Dhaka.
34 PRESS XPRESS OCTOBER 2022 OCTOBER 2022 PRESS XPRESS 35