PM Hasina: Conspiracies surrounding polls nothing to worry about

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday brushed off concerns about conspiracies being hatched at home and abroad ahead of the upcoming general election, asking the people not to worry about them.

"... we have nothing to worry about as the people are always beside us with their votes," the prime minister said during a views-exchange meeting with Tungipara Awami League, its associate bodies, local public representatives and civil personalities at the party Tungipara office.

Bangladesh is due to hold its national election in the first week of January.

Sheikh Hasina, chief of the ruling Awami League, said there have been several attempts on her life, adding that she has reached where she is today confronting bullets and bombs.

"Allah has given tasks to every person and protects him or her till the work is accomplished. Allah is up above and the leaders and activists of my party are on the ground to save me. The people who belong to my party always protect me whenever I am attacked," she said.

The prime minister reached Tungipara on Tuesday afternoon following the opening of the Dhaka-Bhanga section of the Padma Bridge rail link at the Mawa end in Munshiganj and addressing a rally at Dr Kazi Abu Yusuf Stadium in Bhanga, Faridpur.

Soon after the premier along with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana reached Tungipara, she paid homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahaman by placing a wreath at his mausoleum and offered prayers there.

She stayed overnight at Tungipara, her village home, and she is scheduled to leave for Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon.