The militants will be awarded stringent punishment under the law of the land, she said, shocked by deadly bombings in Gazipur and Chittagong.

The prime minister also urged the opposition Awami League (AL) to return to parliament and to sit across the table to discuss their proposal for reforms in the electoral process, shunning the path of violence.

Khaleda issued renewed warnings against the JMB militants and made the appeal to the opposition while addressing a public meeting at the District Sports Association (DSA) ground yesterday.

Referring to the bomb explosions in Gazipur and Chittagong, she said these elements are enemies of Islam, humanity, nation, and democracy. She said that her government has banned the Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) for their terrorist activities and killings.

"They are culprits, terrorists and murderers. They cannot go to heaven by killing man," she told her audience in the southern coastal district amidst strong response and urged the people to help them arrest. She said those who will help catch the bombers will be rewarded.

She also urged people to get united against these extremists and advised the house owners not to rent out houses to strangers.

" We'll crush them; they are enemies of humanity," an irate Khaleda told the rally in the wake recurrent strike by the bombers.

Inviting the Awami League to parliament and discussion table for resolving the problems they are raising, the prime minister said the opposition has been boycotting parliament on a lame excuse of election procedure.

Referring to BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan's offer for dialogue with the Awami League, Khaleda said: "Today, I again urge you to come to parliament, sit across the table on your demands and resolve the problems."

About the next general elections, Khaleda said her government will hand over power to caretaker government for holding elections in 2007.

She urged people to cast vote for sheaf of paddy in the next elections to continue the current trend of development. "Exercise your franchise judiciously--take the correct decision in the next elections."

Presided over by Commerce Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhjury, the meeting was also addressed, among others, by Health Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Commu-nications Minister Nazmul Huda, Water Resources Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Finance Shah Md. Abul Hossain and Prime Minister's Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury.

Earlier, the prime minister inaugurated the newly built 485-meter-long Patuakhali Bridge over the Patuakhali-Barisal highway in Sadar upazila.

She opened the bridge over the river Laukathi for traffic through unveiling the plaque.

Roads and Highways Depart-ment implemented the project financed by the government.