"Don't you see their torture and repression? Come and save us from the suffocating situation created by the alliance government," she said, addressing the inaugural session of a two-day programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh auditorium.

The Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and Women's Voice jointly organised the programme titled "Together Against Torture" marking the UN-announced international day in support of the oppressed. BIHR Chairman Justice KM Subhan presided over the function.

Hasina said the situation has reached such a level that people are "not allowed to express their opinion while the opposition lawmakers are not allowed to speak in parliament."

The government appointed the chief justice superseding two senior judges, she said.

"Where would the people go for justice when the government is undermining the judiciary time and again and patronising the killers of Bangabandhu by rewarding them posthumously?" Hasina quipped.

She warned the government of severe consequences for its "misdeeds and repression."

"Time has come to resist them. We were with the tortured in the past and we will be beside them in the future," she said adding in a choked voice that she lost her family members and returned to Bangladesh to establish people's rights.

"Bangladesh has now turned into a breeding ground of killers and safe haven for criminals with government patronage."

She alleged that the BNP chairperson did not follow the constitution and was playing with the people's fate.

The AL president said the government has taken loans from the IMF under tough conditions without informing the people about those. "To pay back the loans, they will impose heavy burden of tax upon the people."

Addressing the function, President of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud said the judiciary must be independent according to the constitution, but the executive has been trying to control it.

He regretted that the opposition's voice is being stifled in parliament. "There is no difference between terrorism and torture. In fact, torture is more heinous than terrorism," he said.

A large number of people, alleged to be victims of torture, including journalists Saleem Samad and Enamul Huq Chowdhury, joined the programme. Some of them narrated their ordeal about how they were "tortured".

BIHR Secretary General Akram Hossain Chowdhury presented an overview on torture and urged the people to unite against such crimes.