"You protect and have made those people ministers, who collaborated with the occupation forces in 1971, killed our intellectuals, do not believe in our independence, dishonour our national flag and national anthem. So, who is the traitor, you or I?" Hasina asked, pointing at Jamaat chief and cabinet member Motiur Rahman Nizami.

"You talk of sedition charges, but you are a traitor yourself," she told the Rajshahi divisional rally of the 14-party opposition combine led by her party Awami League (AL). "You held anti-militancy meeting (Wednesday's Paltan meeting) but you protected militants by not speaking against them. Rather, you came down heavily on the opposition."

The AL chief told the huge rally held at the Madrasa Maidan that Jamaat is not a party that stands for 'Islam as preached by our prophet. They (Jamaat) project 'Islam of Maodudi' who opposed the independence of the then Pakistan and also of Bangladesh, she said.

Hasina blamed the BNP-Jamaat coalition for attempt on her life in the August 21 grenade attacks last year.

She alleged former president Ziaur Rahman granted indemnity to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's killers while she (PM) offered blessings and promotions to them.

"You have came to politics through murders and you have come to power over people's blood, and the trend continues. You can kill me any moment...You killed 26,000 people including Shah AMS Kibria, Prof Mohammad Younus (of Rajshahi University) and Mamtaz Uddin (ex-MP from Bogra). You can kill anyone. People will bring you to justice".

"If I have to die like my father, mother and brothers for establishing rights of the people, I am ready to die. You (PM) cannot resist people's movement by issuing threats ... Threats will not work in case of those who are not afraid of death," the AL chief went on.

The former prime minister accused the government of harbouring Islamist militants and their godfathers in the cabinet in a bid to cling to power with the help of anti-liberation forces.

Describing the militant outfit JMB as Jamaat-er-Moddhe BNP (BNP inside Jamaat), Hasina said that the ruling alliance is now killing people by using militant suicide squads after the murder of people in the name of Operation Clean Heart and with the help of party cadres and Rab members.

Turning to other issues, Hasina said this government does not want reforms in the caretaker system as it fears people's verdict following spiralling terrorism and corruption, prices of essentials and politicisation.

But the people will compel the government to quit through movement, she added. There is no other alternative but to force the government of the four-party alliance to step down, and save the country from being an abode of Islamist extremists, Hasina stressed.

She called upon the people and 14-party leaders and workers to visit villages and form committees to track down militants and make public corruption and irregularities of the BNP-Jamaat government.

If voted to power, AL will root out militancy, bring down prices of essentials within the reach of general people, establish food security, open all closed industries and supply natural gas to Rajshahi, she promised.

HUMAN SEA
It was a human sea at the Madrasa Maidan, the rally venue, while the city wore a different look with streams of people walking along all the streets, braving day-long winter drizzles.

Thousands of people started to enter the city on buses also from Sirajganj, Pabna, Natore, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Bogra and Joypurhat districts from 10:00am.

By 2:00pm, there was no space at the Maidan that can accommodate around one lakh people, and on the roads leading to it. Several hundred megaphones were installed to enable people to hear speeches of the 14-party leaders.

Unprecedented security arrangements were made around the rally venue while five hundred AL volunteers were specially assigned to assist police in maintaining law and order.

Intelligence officials of Rab and the police swept the entire venue repeatedly with metal detectors and bomb disposal units.

The rally was also addressed by, among others, Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil, party leaders Abdur Razzak, Suranjit Sengupta, Motia Chowdhury, Tofail Ahmed, Obaidul Kader and Mohammod Nasim, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, General Secretary Bimol Biswas, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) chief Hasanul Huq Inu, General Secretary of Shammyabadi Dal Dilip Barua and Gano Azadi League leader Nurul Islam.

Dr Kamal Hossain, meanwhile, asked the government to find out who were prompting the prime minister to make 'reckless remarks'.

"Irresponsibility of this government has climaxed, and that is why they are calling patriots as traitors. Those inside the government, who harbour militants for going to power, are behind making reckless comments", the eminent jurist said.

He also said it is not fair that the ruling BNP resorted to criticism of the opposition without resolving vital issues including the August 21 grenade attacks and militancy.