Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the people of all strata to resist terrorism and militancy, saying these are not our path to tread.

"I call upon the people of all levels of society to put up resistance against terrorism, militancy and drug addiction ... these scourges are not our ways," she told a mammoth public rally here this afternoon.

Bangladesh Awami League organised the rally at Rajendra College playground.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said Islam never supports killing of innocent people and choosing the path of committing suicide.

She said those who went to the path of terrorism and militancy are tainting the image of the Muslims worldwide and polluting and defaming Islam. "So it's my appeal to the people of all spheres to take action against the misguided elements so that they shun this evil way," she said.

"Islam is the religion of peace, harmony and brotherhood and it never supports the killing of innocent people and choosing the path of committing suicide," she said.

The premier said parents, guardians, imams, law-enforcement agencies and administration will have to stay alert so that children and students don't engage themselves in terrorism, militancy and drug addiction.

"You will have to see whether any student remains absent from school and college ... you will have to watch with whom they make friendship and move," she said.

In this connection, the prime minister said: "We want that children would pursue study and receive higher education ... we're providing scholarship alongside modern and technology-based education for this," she said.

Deputy Leader of the House and Senior Presidium Member of AL Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Commerce Minister and AL Advisory Council Member Tofail Ahmed, LGRD Minister Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, AL Presidium Members Kazi Zafarullah and Faruk Khan, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, among others, spoke at the rally.

Faridpur District AL President Advocate Subal Chandra Saha presided over the rally, while AL Central Joint Secretary Abdur Rahman conducted it.

Earlier, the prime minister opened and laid the foundation stones of 33 development schemes by unveiling their plaques from the meeting venue.