"I am asking you [lawyers] to take legal action to save the institution and the constitution," said Hasina, also president of the main opposition Awami League (AL).

The AL chief was speaking at a meeting titled 'Crime against humanity and victims of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)' at the auditorium of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the capital. Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) organised the meeting marking the UN International Day for victims of torture.

Hasina criticised Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar for using the president's car and monogram even after President Iajuddin Ahmed returned home. The AL chief said, "Sircar has not only occupied the office of the president but also occupied the official Bangabhaban residence."

"After the president's plane touches the country's ground, the Speaker cannot use the president's car or monogram," the AL chief said adding, "But the Speaker did that when he went to welcome the president home at the airport." A Speaker can never use the president's monogram or car, Hasina said adding that they have never heard of this sort of practice even during the rule of General Ayub Khan.

The AL president alleged the alliance government is searching for a docile president for the country to rig the upcoming parliamentary elections to retain power. Urging the people to be aware of their rights, Hasina asked them to prepare for a last battle against the misrule and corruption of the coalition government.

Hasina also criticised the alliance government for its torture, repression and filing of false cases against opposition workers. She urged the well-off people of the country to help those who are tortured and repressed by the coalition government and 'its law enforcers'.

She asked the victims to prepare a list of policemen, along with his or her photograph, who tortured opposition legislators, leaders, activists and female workers. She also asked them to prepare the list by including the family members of the police personnel involved in the atrocities.

"Why the family members of those oppressor policemen will be spared when our mothers and sisters are being tortured?" she questioned adding that she believes in the rule of law.

"We will not get justice in this country as there is absence of law and order in the country under the rule of the alliance regime," she said adding, "The oppressors will not be spared. But I'm not asking anyone to take the law in their hand."

If anyone manages to get away torturing others, there is no alternative but to take revenge, the AL president said asking her party leaders to prepare another list of those who are the complainants of false cases filed against the opposition men.

Hasina said they would enact a law to put the repressors on trial if her party is voted to power. She also urged the lawyers to prepare a draft law so that they could enact the law immediately after receiving power.

She apprehended that both the JMB kingpins might be killed in so-called crossfire lest they should leak the secrets of their links with government high-ups including the prime minister, her son and state minister for home affairs in the anti-state activities.

Hasina alleged the Jamaat-BNP coalition government do not care about the constitution and the laws and for this reason they are doing whatever they want using their power and money.

A number of Bangla Bhai [militant leader Siddiqul Islam] victims -- Chowdhury Golam Mostafa, Sabina Akhter Tuhin, Mahbubul Islam, Shafi Noor Nahar, Mohsin and Rebeka from Bagmara, Atrai, Raninagar and Naldanga upazilas -- narrated their episodes of repression before the opposition leader. They also told the AL president that hundreds of victims are still staying away from their homes fearing torture by cadres of Bangla Bhai.

Bangladesh Bar Council Vice-president Rokanuddin Mahmud, Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, Proshika Chairman Kazi Faruque Ahmed also spoke in the meeting.

BIHR Secretary General Akram Hossain Chowdhury chaired the meeting.