"It is unlikely that Dhaka-10 by-polls will be free and fair…The ruling alliance candidate will lose the election if it is fair," said Hasina, also President of the main opposition Awami League (AL).

Addressing a press conference yesterday at the party's Dhanmondi office in the capital, she alleged the BNP-led alliance candidate has gathered criminals from different areas of the city to create a panicky situation in the constituency so that general voters keep off polling centres.

Hasina said government high-ups are determined not see the ruling coalition candidate defeated and have completed all arrangements for him to secure a win. They have gathered a large number of fake voters to cast votes for him, she alleged.

The AL is not contesting the by-polls but it is backing the candidate of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh.

The AL chief said the Bikalpa Dhara candidate could not campaign for votes due to violent resistance from the alliance loyalists.

Journalist repression

The opposition leader demanded an immediate end to 'government-patronised' repression on journalists. "Journalists are being killed and subjected to repression by ruling alliance cadres as the rulers want to prevent newsmen from exposing their misdeeds."

She also demanded judicial inquiries into the killing of journalists including Manik Saha and Humayun Kabir Balu.

Hasina asked the government to oust those ministers who are accused of providing shelter to killers and criminals and backing extremist groups.

Referring to a list of the Committee to Protect Journalists placing Bangladesh at the top among Asian nations for repression on journalists, she said armed groups patronised by government high-ups are killing journalists.

"Even ministers, ruling alliance lawmakers and their sons are involved in such crimes," the AL chief said. She mentioned that Bachchu Mollah, who was accused of torturing journalist Nazmul, got BNP ticket to contest and win an 'almost voterless' by-election in a Kushtia constituency.

"The situation is so grave that journalists of southern districts held a convention against repression on them", said the opposition leader.

She alleged that ruling coalition high-ups have links to the outlawed Janajuddha group, which claimed responsibility for the killing of Khluna journalist Humayun Kabir Balu.

At least 66 journalists were assaulted in Khulna in the last one year, Hasina said.

"Not only Khulna, the entire country is now a death valley for journalists.

Eight journalists were killed, 800 were attacked by alliance loyalists, 245 got death threats and 49 were arrested in two and half years of coalition rule", said the AL chief.

Senior AL leaders were also present at the press conference.