<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that last month’s  parliamentary election that handed her the fourth consecutive term in office was the most free, fair and impartial vote in the country since 1975.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“I think this time the election was the most free, fair and neutral of all the polls held after 1975,” she said about the January 7 election that was boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).</div><div><br></div><div>The premier made this remark while exchanging views with local leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies and local representatives from Tungipara Upazila of Gopalganj at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>She said there were many conspiracies and plots to thwart the election as a party (BNP) founded in the hands of a military dictator wanted to prevent this democratic process.</div><div><br></div><div>“But the most important thing in this election was that people spontaneously went to the polling stations and cast their votes,” said Hasina, who is also the prrsident of the Awami League.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said the journey ahead for Bangladesh would not be so easy in the days to come. Many obstacles have to be overcome. Many conspiracies surround this Bangladesh, she warned.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Bangladesh today has come a long way in soci0-economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>“The people of Bangladesh are financially solvent today,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about commodity prices, Hasina said that the people with fixed income are facing some difficulty.</div><div><br></div><div>“If we all cultivate the fallow lands then there will be no shortage of food. Rather, we can have surplus,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said all the fallow lands will have to be brought under cultivation and the government would extend assistance in this regard, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>She urged the local government representatives to ensure that the development projects are implemented properly.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM asked them to gain public trust and confidence by their deeds.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>