Take right decision in next polls to foil conspiracy

She said the election is "very important" as it will determine whether the country would march forward or be subservient to aliens through economic digression.

She made the call while addressing a discussion marking the 25th death anniversary of late president Ziaur Rahman on Ahsan Manjil premises at Islampur in old Dhaka, organised by Islampur Cloth Traders' Association.

Khaleda, also chairperson of the ruling BNP, warned people about a "conspiracy" being carried out against the county by those who want to make it weak, with a subservient government that would take orders, reversing the current trend of advances in all sectors--health, education, poverty alleviation, economy and so.

"If BNP and the alliance return to power through the next elections, Bangladesh would stand tall as a self-reliant nation, without any foreign assistance, within next five years--from 2007 to 2012," she told her audience.

Referring to the recent incidents against garment sector, she right away termed all this as part of a "foreign conspiracy" perpetrated by some of their "local lackeys and betrayers who want to go to power leaving people unemployed and shattering the national economy".

She urged the people to remain alert about that "evil force", saying that the ill attempt would not be allowed to get through.

Criticising the misrule and misdeeds of her political opponents, Khaleda said they never had done welfare and progress of the country and its people rather wanted to cling to power anyway by serving the interest of the aliens at their dictate.

"BNP doesn't move at the instruction of others --it has its own agenda and programmes and is implementing those one after another for the development and progress of the country."

She said people have witnessed development and implementation of the programmes again and again, so they voted the party to power repeatedly.

BNP believes in free, fair and neutral elections, said Khaleda, adding that as much as free and fair election would be held so much would increase public support to BNP and the alliance.

She noted that BNP and alliance got over two-thirds majority in the last election as it was free, fair and neutral, and expressed the hope that the 2007 election would also be free and fair.

Criticizing the opposition campaign abroad against communal harmony as untrue, she said

communal harmony has been prevailing in the country with people of all religions living here peacefully enjoying equal rights.

She said the identity of everybody here is Bangladeshi"there is no majority or minority".

Khaleda alleged that the Awami League, during their rule, unleashed repression on people of different religions, and looted and captured their property.

The PM said they had stopped puja at Ramna Kalimandir and taken over the land during their regime, but it is her government that gave permission to perform puja there.

Information Minister M Shamsul Islam, Housing and Public Works Minister Mirza Abbas, Mayor Sadek Hossian Khoka, PM's Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury, State Minister for Health Mizanur Rahman Sinha, State Minister for Labour Amanullah Aman, Begum Samsun Nahar Khwaja Ahsanualah Jubo Dal President Barkatullah Bulu, Abdul Hye MP, Salahuddin Ahmed MP and Nasiruddin Ahmed MP also spoke with Islampur Cloth Traders' Association president Abdus Sattar Dhali in the chair.