"Bomb terrorism is part of a conspiracy against the country to halt its development and make Bangladesh friendless," she told a public meeting at Adarsha Degree College ground here yesterday.

"We have achieved independence of the country through war at the cost of blood. People cannot be made captive, nor can the country be made subservient by blasting some bombs."

She said acts of terrorism are occurring in many countries of the world, and those countries are taking united stand through discussion to resolve the problem.

But in Bangladesh, the prime minister said, instead of cooperating with the government and coming forward for discussion to seek ways of tackling the problem, hartals are being enforced to encourage terrorism and bomb explosions.

"They don't want to stop bomb terrorism, nor want wellbeing of the people...it has become clear today who are behind the bomb blasts."

She said when the country is advancing in all fronts--employment, investment, health, education, and increasing life expectancy and per capita income--a conspiracy has been put into play by those who want to make Bangladesh backward, to destroy the judiciary and do not want education of children. "Bomb terrorism is a part of that conspiracy."

Criticising false campaign abroad about the country's communal harmony, Khaleda said Bangladesh is a moderate country and will remain so, where people of all faiths are performing and celebrating religious rituals and festivals peacefully. "There is no division among us."

Urging the people to help catch the perpetrators of bomb blasts, as it is a moral responsibility, she said the perpetrators will be punished under the laws of the land.

Reiterating the government's determination to stop bomb terrorism at any cost, she said a tough law will be enacted, if necessary, to give punishment to the perpetrators through quick trial.

The prime minister urged people to cooperate with police, Rab, Ansar and other law enforcement agencies to arrest the perpetrators of bomb blasts.

"Those carrying out bomb terrorism are not followers of any religion; they are terrorists," she said.

Listing her government's development activities, Khaleda said the BNP-led alliance will again come to power by people's mandate to complete the ongoing development programmes.

Chaired by local BNP leader Anwar Hossain Bakul, the rally was addressed, among others, by Health and Family Welfare Minister Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Communications Minister Nazmul Huda, Jute and Textile Minister Shajahan Siraj, Prime Minister's Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury and State Minister for Communications Salahuddin Ahmed.

Earlier, the prime minister inaugurated over 500-meter-long Sayed Masud Rumi Bridge over Gorai river on Kushtia-Rajbari road in Kumarkhali. She also opened the upgraded Kushtia district hospital.