The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pankaj Karmakar from Mymensingh

Former prime minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said she would not bow down before death threats rather work for the well being of people till her last breath.

"Mass wave has been created as the sail of boat gathered wind. Some vested quarters are trying to threaten me seeing the mass wave, but I do not care more about my life than I do for a thriving Bangladesh", she said while addressing rallies at 14 different places of Gazipur, Tangail and Mymensingh a day after BNP Chairperson's rally in the area. The security measures were more strengthened after the news of her life's risk published in the dailies yesterday.

Sheikh Hasina resolved the ongoing dilemma over Mymensingh-4 constituency on the day. She introduced Professor Matiur Rahman as the candidate for the constituency and mentioned Rawshan Ershad as the candidate of grand alliance for Gaibandha-5. The audience hailed her announcement.

She promised at one of a rallies that a flyover would be built from Dhaka to Gazipur to reduce traffic congestion.

Hasina urged people to cast vote for the grand alliance candidates to save country from the curse of corruption and terrorism.

The former premier urged for votes for Abdul Siddique candidate of Tangail-4, at a rally in Elenga Titas Gas field. We want to create digital Bangladesh for which we need your support the daughter of Sheikh Mujib said.

Seeking vote for Dr Matiur Rahman contesting from Tangail-3 (Ghatail constituency), Hasina promised to distribute fertiliser free of cost, give subsidy in agriculture, solve unemployment problems and ensure health centre for each six thousand people.

She referred to AL government as the golden era in the rally of Gopalpur VM High School, organised by the candidate of Tangail-2 constituency and former MP Khondakar Asaduzzaman. We achieved self-dependence in food on those days but the 4-party alliance gave the nation nothing but terrorism and corruption, she added.

The AL Chief wondered how a Muslim could plot to kill another Muslim. Former BNP state minister and an accused in the August 21 grenade attack, Abdus Salam Pintu won in 2001 elections from this seat.

She asked the BNP chairperson whether or not she has any responsibility when one of her former ministers is accused in a murder case. "She

(Khaleda) cannot shrug off her responsibility. She is the perpetrator of terrorism," the Awami League president said.

"The news of BNP and Jamaat corruption has been publicised internationally. I don't have to tell people how they extorted huge bribes from foreign companies, laundered that money and deposited it with foreign banks," said the former prime minister.

Addressing the rallies she said, as BNP-Jamaat alliance was the creator of terrorism, looting and extortion they could not work for the sake of the country. She called upon all to retort the 4-party alliance a befitting reply by ballots in the election.

Hasina had earlier addressed a rally at Basail Gulla Primary

School ground for Shawkat Momen Shahjahan (Tangail-8).

"Bashail will be upgraded to a municipality if we are voted to power, this area will have electricity and proper irrigation provisions.

She urged the people of Tangail to vote for boat, promising to revive the area's dying handloom industry. "If voted to power, we'll take necessary steps to provide special loans for weavers to help revive the dying handloom industry. Tangail will be upgraded to a cultural hub."

The former prime minister introduced the 'grand alliance' candidate Jatiya Party's Abul Kashem to the people gathered.

"We from AL had first nominated Mamunur Rashid Mamun from this Tangail-5 seat."

"Mamun's candidature was later withdrawn in the interests of the grand alliance," said the AL chief who heads the alliance.

She called on all to "vote for boat and plough" and bring victory to the 'grand alliance'.

Addressing a rally at Madhupur Rani Bhabani Pilot High School ground for AL candidate Dr Abdur Razzak, candidate for Tangail-1, the Awami League chief said if

voted to power, her government would return lands to the indigenous people in the area inhabited by some 40,000 `adibasis' (indigenous people).

Hasina addressed election rallies at Mirzapur High School

ground for Ekabbar Hossain from Tangail-7, Ahsanul Islam

Tito (Tangail-6) and Kaliakoir Sheikh Mujib Degree College ground for

AKM Mozammel Huq from Gazipur-1.

She also addressed rallies at Trishal for Reza Ali for Mymensingh-7, M Amanullah for Mymensingh-11, Adv Rahmatullah for Mawna-3 and Jahid Ahsan Rasel for Gazipur-2 which were organised at four different places of Trishal and Bhaluka of Mymensingh and Gazipur and Sripur.

Sheikh Hasina will probably campaign in the city through videoconference today according to sources.