"She wants to hang on to power to enjoy the huge wealth earned through illegal means," she said at a discussion at the Institution of Engineers auditorium.

Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student front of Awami League, organised the discussion marking the `national mourning day' 15th August, the day in 1975 when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed.

"If she [Khaleda] has so much confidence on the people why is she trying to bring Ershad into to her 4-party alliance?" Hasina, the chief guest of the discussion, posed the question to her principal political rival.

She wondered how the government could "influence the judiciary and overnight withdraw" the corruption cases against former autocrat Ershad.

"Khaleda's pre-election pledge was to eliminate corruption and terrorism," Hasina said, adding, "How could it be possible to fight against corruption by lifting the corruption cases against Ershad? And how could it be possible to eliminate terrorism by killing innocent people and opposition men without trial?"

She urged the people to get united to free the nation from the politics where power, wealth and comfort are the only consideration.

AL leader Obaidul Kader, writer Selina Hossain, Dr Mizanur Rahman, Momtaz Latif and Chatra League General Secretary Mahfuzul Haider Roton, among others, spoke on the occasion where Chhatra League President Mahamud Hasan Ripon presided.