DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday categorically said her government would work to ensure the safety and security of people of the country at any cost.

“BNP does not believe in democracy and sovereignty as they are killing people in the name of blockade and hartal,” she said.

The premier came up with the assertion while addressing a rally marking the ‘Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’ in city’s Suhrawardy Udyan in the afternoon.

Sheikh Hasina also claimed that BNP established corruption in their terms.

She recalled the sacrifice and contribution of the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for the sake of the country. The nation fought for independence under the leadership of Bangabandhu in 1971, she added.

Sheikh Hasina said that there were many conspiracies to distort the history of 1971 since the assassination of Bangabandhu. But when Awami League came to power after long 21 years, we restored the original history of Liberation War, the PM added.

She said that Bangladesh has gradually been developing since 2009 when the Awami League assumed to power.

The PM further said that the construction of Padma Bridge has started with local funds. Besides, several development projects are also on progress for the betterment of people, she added.

She also hoped that Bangladesh will reach to the target of being mid-income country within 2021 and it will be a developed country by 2042.

BNP did not participate in January 5 elections, because they knew that they would face a fiasco, she added.

She said that BNP is responsible for creating violence across the country.

Sheikh Hasina also criticized the grenade attack on an Awami League rally on 21 August in 2004 which left at least 24 people including the then Mohila Awami League chief Ivy Rahman – also wife of late president Zillur Rahman – dead and over 300 others injured.

Hasina thanked the law enforcers and AL activists for offering a safe and friendly environment to the Muslim devotees during Biswa Ijtema.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia is not confined rather she is staying at her Gulshan office at her own will, she said.

PM said that the people of Bangladesh want peace not violence in the name of hartal and blockade. So the common people of the country are not with BNP as they ignored spontaneously BNP called blockades and hartals, she added.

She also thanked her party leaders and activists for attending the rally avoiding the BNP’s ongoing hartal.

BDST: 1829 HRS, JAN 12, 2015