Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged all to remain alert so that BNP-Jamaat clique cannot return to power as they were engaged in killings, creating militants and serial bomb blasts in 500 places on a single day.

‘The power of the country must not be given to these killers, oppressors and militants, especially those who hurled bombs in 500 places, and killed two MPs,’ she said, reports the UNB.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a function organised to hand over financial assistance to the family members of the 69 people killed and injured in the August 21 grenade attack on a rally held at Bangabandhu Avenue in protest against terrorism in 2004.

She also said the BNP-Jamaat nexus never believes in the existence of Bangladesh and its independence.

Sheikh Hasina, the chief of ruling Awami League, said the then BNP-Jamaat government was behind the grenade attack on her rally that left 24 people dead and several hundred injured.

‘The trial of that killing is on. Hope, the verdict on the case will be pronounced soon and those guilty will be punished,’ she said.

Hasina said the aim of the grenade attack was just to eliminate a party. ‘It was the aim of BNP, and we want justice.’

She said Khaleda Zia was the Prime Minister at that time, and her son and two of her cabinet colleagues were involved in the heinous attack.

Recalling the misrule of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, she said there were 19 coups in the army at that time. ‘That type of miserable days shouldn’t return to the country as people are now living in peace and comfort.’

Seeking cooperation of people in advancing the country further, Hasina said, ‘We want to build the country in such a way where there will be peace and prosperity.’