Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday hoped the new Election Commission will be able to gain people’s confidence through performing its duties neutrally and independently being loyal to the country’s sacred Constitution.

Replying to a starred tabled question from Nur-e-Hasna Lily Chowdhury (women seat-44) during her scheduled question-answer session in Parliament, she also said the government is pledged-bound to extend all kinds of cooperation to the Election Commission.

The Prime Minister also congratulated the newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners as they took oath of office this afternoon. "We're happy and proud that a female commissioner has been appointed to the reconstituted Election Commission for the first time in the country’s history," she said.

CEC KM Nurul Huda and four other election commissioners -- Mahbub Talukder, Md Rafiqul Islam, Kabita Khanam and Brig Gen (retd) Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury -- took over their charge at about 4:25 pm.

Earlier, Chief Justice SK Sinha administered the oath to them at the Supreme Court Judges' Lounge at 3:00pm.

On February 6 last, President Abdul Hamid reconstituted the five-member Election Commission (EC) making former secretary KM Nurul Huda the CEC.

The new Election Commission will conduct the next general election scheduled for January, 2019.

Mentioning that the BNP-Jamaat clique made a voter list incorporating some 1.23 crore fake voters to cling onto power through winning the subsequent election, the Prime Minister termed it ‘a heinous example and worst farce in Bangladesh’s history’.

She said her government has already ensured independence of the Election Commission, its permanent secretariat and financial freedom.

"Utmost transparency and modernisation have been ensured in the election process and all kinds of necessary reforms are being carried out from time to time. In a word, all necessary things which are necessary for establishing an independent Election Commission are being implemented in phases," she added.

"We're extending all necessary cooperation in strengthening the Election Commission further for ensuring people’s voting rights, and we're committed to maintaining this in the future," she added.

Noting that the country’s common people have a steadfast confidence and unflinching support towards the march forward of Bangladesh under the stewardship of the current Awami League government, Hasina said no evil force will be able to deter it from the path for development and thwart the trend of democratic process.

"We've been able to uphold the sacred Constitution, democracy and democratic institutions together with the common people by the grace of Almighty Allah, and we'll keep it up in the future," she added.

The Leader of the House said all have come together to materialise the vision of turning Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041 and prosperous 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.