The Awami League wanted a strong and effective opposition in the 11th National Parliament, but a party’s move to make cash out of tickets for the election has spoiled it, says party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Her remarks came on Wednesday (Jan 3) while addressing a cross-section of people who greeted her on a third straight term at the Ganabhaban, reports UNB.

"For democracy, a strong opposition is needed. That’s why we wanted that there would be a good opposition, but the possibility to become such an opposition lessens when a party indulges in nomination trade," the news agency quoted her saying.

Hasina said she found selling party tickets as ‘peculiar’, it said.

"The way they gave their nominations was not for participating in the election. They just did business in the name of giving nominations," the report quoted her saying.

Hasina told the Ganabhaban gathering that a Bangladesh national went to the mission in Dubai to submit his nomination paper and threw tantrums when officials informed that it has to be submitted online or to the concerned returning officers.

"The person told the mission officials that he gave so much money in London that they told him he could be able to submit his nomination paper even from Dubai. This is just an incident. There’re more incidents like this," UNB quoted her saying.

The Awami League chief referred to BNP acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman, who is on a self-imposed exile in the British capital since 2008.

“For what did they give more than nomination in one seat? What type of election will they do who can do this type of incident?" she was quoted saying by the news agency,

On her administration's plans for the next five year, the prime minister said they will ensure home, education, food, nutrition and treatment for the people. "Their lives will be beautiful and developed, this is my expectations for the coming days," she added.

Expressing her deep gratitude towards the people of the country for keeping their trust and belief in her, the AL chief sought cooperation from all so that she could honour the trust and belief.