Prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that the ruling Awami League had no other masters other than the mass people of Bangladesh.

‘The people are our masters and we are accountable to the people only,’ she said in categorical terms while delivering her introductory speech at the special extended meeting of the Awami League at her official residence Ganabhaban.

She also said that her party Awami League worked for the welfare of the people.

The president of the Awami League asked leaders and workers of her party to highlight the achievements in the last 14 and half years to the grassroots.

At the same time, she also directed them to strengthen the organisation as the next general election was approaching, saying they would have to earn the trust and confidence of the common people.

Around 5,000 party leaders and elected public representatives from the AL took part in the meeting.

The prime minister said, the country was witnessing massive development and fate of the people was changing as the Awami League had been in the power since 2009 after receiving mandate of the people.

She said that Bangladesh had attained the status of a ‘developing nation’ as a result of the Awami League being in power.

‘Awami League has worked with a long-term plan for it,’ she said.

She mentioned that Bangladesh’s journey as a developing nation would begin in 2026.

‘I would like to tell the people of the country whether or not you want Bangladesh to move forward with the status of a developing country.’

She also directed the leaders and activities of Awami League to ask the people regarding the journey of the developing nation of Bangladesh, as the people are the owners of their votes.

She said that If the people wanted Bangladesh to move forward with the status of a developing nation and to be established, then they should vote for Awami League’s electoral symbol, boat.

‘And it will be possible if AL gets votes, and no one else can do it,’ she asserted.

Hasina said Awami League was working to change the fate of people of all professions, including blacksmiths, potters, weavers, and fishers.

‘We promise to work for everyone. Awami League has worked for every person; no one else has ever thought or acted for people before,’ she said.

PM Hasina asked her party leaders and activists to convey these messages to the people and strengthen the organisation at the same time.

‘We will build the Golden Bangla as dreamt by father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,’ she declared.

She requested the party leaders and activists to go to the grassroot people including beneficiaries of Asrayan projects, and other allowances.

Members of AL central committee, central working committee, advisory council, presidents and general secretaries of district, metropolitan, upazila and municipality units of AL, members of parliament, district and upazila parishad chairmen, city corporation and municipality mayors, presidents and general secretaries of AL associate organisations were present at the meeting.

Before every national election, the AL organises such meetings to give guidelines to the party leaders. Last such meeting was held on June 23, 2017 ahead of the 2018 parliamentary polls.

The next general election in the country is due in next December or first week of January.

Awami League has been in power since 2009 after winning three consecutive national elections.