At a press conference held at the party's Dhanmondi office, the AL chief supported the demand Shah AMS Kibria's family for the postponement of the Saarc summit.

"They (the government) cannot ensure security for the MPs (members of parliament). How will they ensure security for the heads of government?" Hasina questioned.

"I agree with Kibria's family about the postponment of the Saarc summit. Who will take the responsibility if any accident takes place?" the opposition leader said when journalists asked whether the hartal programme by the AL on the eve of the Saarc summit will disrupt the summit.

The AL chief said her party will continue with its agitation programme including hartal as long as the BNP-led coalition government remains in power.

She recalled late SAMS Kibria's contribution to Saarc's formation.

"This government does not want us to stay in parliament and that is why they are killing AL MPs one after another," Hasina said, adding that the government has made parliament dysfunctional.

"The government has made a smooth way for the prime minister's political secretary to win the general election by killing Kibria," she said.

Condemning police atrocities on the opposition rallies during hartal, including attacks on journalists and women activists, she said the government is using the police to tame the opposition movement.

The opposition leader also accused the government of issuing 'crossfire threats' to AL activists by Rapid Action Battalion to suppress the ongoing movement and said nobody will be able to stop the opposition movement.

Regarding the speaker's refusal to defer the president's address and adjourning the parliament's procedure on the first session of the year, Hasina referred to articles 90 and 73 of the constitution and said there is nothing wrong if parliament is adjourned after an obituary reference is adopted.

Senior AL leaders attended the press conference.