"They (AL) want to snatch your voting rights as they don't believe in democracy and don't want development of the country," Khaleda, also chairperson of the ruling BNP, told a public meeting at Chatmohar.

The opposition was threatening to resist general elections "sensing that they have no chance to win the next polls," she said.

She said they also want to halt development activities, disturb the investment climate and thwart the democratic right of the people.

Referring to the Awami League, Khaleda said the main opposition had unleashed destructive activities in the name of hartal to discourage foreign investment and to cripple the country's economy and halt progress and advancement.

She told the audience that investors from Saudi Arabia, UK, USA, Malaysia, Japan, Italy and India are coming to Bangladesh, witnessing investment-friendly environment and availability of skilled manpower in our country.

The prime minister urged people to support the BNP-led coalition to return to power so that they can keep up the ongoing development activities and make Bangladesh a self-reliant nation.

Earlier, the prime minister inaugurated the upgraded 250-bed Pabna General Hospital in the town. Tk 12.54 crore was spent to upgrade the 120-bed old hospital.

The prime minister made a number of development pledges including construction of roads and bridges and assured assistance for the tornado-hit people.

The meeting was also addressed by Health Minister Khandokar Mosharraf Hossain, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Industries Minister Matiur Rahman Nizami, Prime Minister's Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury, Abdus Sobhan MP and Selim Reza Habib MP. It was presided over by local MP KM Anwarul Islam.