Blaming what she termed the free-fall of law and order partially on the organiations, she said they had countrywide networks and trained their operatives in armed combat.

Hasina, also the president of main opposition Awami League, was addressing leaders and workers of the Rickshaw Malik Sramik Oikya Sangram Parishad at the party headquarters on Bangabandhu Avenue.

She accused the government of unfettering fundamentalist extremists people, instead of providing protection for them.

Pegging the government as 'corrupt and terrorists,' she said: "The entire country is now hostage to criminals patronised by the ruling coalition. They have transformed the peaceful country into a land of terror."

The alliance government is now trying to cling to power using black money and illegal arms, she alleged.

"Innocent people are being killed every day in a planned way and it appears that the government has nothing to do to stop the crimes. Khaleda Zia's administration is totally dysfunctional."

Hasina also accused the ruling alliance of conspiring to kill popular AL leaders, indulging in unabated corruption and failing to check price spiral of essentials.

The AL chief urged rickshaw-pullers to observe the 24-hour hartal on June 5, called simultaneously by the Awami League and its labour front organisation Jatiya Sramik League, demanding punishment to the killers of lawmaker Ahsanullah Master.

Senior party leaders were present on the occasion.