Electoral reforms a must as some rules go against free, fair polls

She also criticised the ongoing voter-enlistment process and said that a free and fair election is not possible with this voter list being prepared under a controversial Chief Election Commissioner.

"After 2001 the alliance government introduced new rules that go against free and fair elections; and our reform proposal is just for that (fair polls)," she said while addressing the grassroots leaders of AL Sylhet district and city units at her Dhanmondi office.

Hasina urged all her party faithful and followers to remain alert against an alleged conspiracy of the government for vote rigging. "We've to ensure the constitutional rights of the people so that they can exercise franchise in a free, fair and neutral environment," she said.

Blasting the government for its "double standard" regarding the proposed electoral reforms, she said the prime minister in public meetings demonstrates her rigid stance not to accept the reform proposals while her secretary general calls for dialogue. "Which person should we believe?"

Hasina once again challenged her arch political rival to contest in the next election accepting her reform proposals. "If you have that much confidence, accept the proposals and then contest," she threw the challenge to the prime minister.

The former prime minister observed that the BNP-Jamaat alliance is plotting to rig the polls as they became sure that the people of the country would not cast their vote for them again in the upcoming election.

She criticised the government for what she said patronising the militants to kill her partymen across the country. "The remote control of the militants is in the hands of the prime minister; her government patronises the militants, and for that reason Shaikh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai are now kept in a sub-jail although they are convicted murderers."

Hasina also said that if Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai got the chance to speak freely, they could divulge many secrets. "Why don't you allow them to speak freely? Why do you show a weakness towards them?" she questioned.

She criticised the prime minister for her move to welcome HM Ershad, whom, Hasina said, the PM had publicly declared 'killer' of her husband.

"How can you eradicate corruption when you withdraw cases against him (Ershad)?" she questioned. "When we tried to hold trial of the Zia murder case, no BNP men came forward to stand as a witness. It didn't end there--Khaleda Zia stopped the trial of the killing after she came to power in 1991," Hasina said.

Branding her opponent Khaleda as 'greedy for power' in a vitriolic attack, the AL chief said, "Her greed is burning the country to ashes."

About the price spiral, Hasina alleged that the family members of the prime minister through syndicate are "looting public money and enlisted themselves among the 29 richest people of the world".

Turning to the political scenario, she termed August as a 'month of killings, losses, mourning and dreads'. "Bangabandhu was killed in this month along with his family members and incidents of grenade attack also took place in this month. And the government is behind all these incidents," she said.

Hasina blamed the authorities for their failure to find out the culprits behind the August 21 grenade attack, countrywide serial bombings, grenade attacks on Sylhet Mayor and British High Commissioner and the killing of Shah AMS Kibria and Ahsanullah Master.

The opposition leader urged her party members to be united to fight against what she called "an autocratic and a killer government".