BNP, Jamaat never believe in Bangladesh: Hasina

Bangladesh Awami League (AL) president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged all to remain alert so that her rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ally Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami cannot return to power.

"The power of the country must not be given to these killers, oppressors and militants, especially those who hurled bombs in 500 places, and killed two MPs," claimed Hasina while speaking at a function at the prime minister’s official residence, Ganabhaban, in the capital.

The function was organised to hand over financial assistance to the family members of the 69 people killed and injured in the August 21 grenade attack on a rally at Bangabandhu Avenue in protest against terrorism in 2004.

She further claimed that the “BNP-Jamaat nexus” never believes in the existence of Bangladesh and its independence.

Hasina said the then BNP-Jamaat government was behind the grenade attack on her rally that left 24 people dead and several hundred injured.

"The trial of that killing is on. Hope, the verdict on the case will be pronounced soon and those guilty will be punished," she said.

Hasina said the aim of the grenade attack was just to eliminate a party. "It was the aim of BNP, and we want justice."

She said Khaleda Zia was the prime minister at that time, and her son and two of her cabinet colleagues were involved in the heinous attack.

Recalling the misrule of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, she said there were 19 coups in the army at that time. "That type of miserable days shouldn't return to the country as people are now living in peace and comfort."

Seeking cooperation of people in advancing the country further, Hasina said, "We want to build the country in such a way where there will be peace and prosperity."