Seeking vote for the Awami League in the next general elections, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said BNP's return to power means destruction of the country.

“BNP's return to power means destroying the country, burning people to death, indulging in corruption, plundering and terrorism, and creating militancy,” she said while addressing a rally in the district town.

AL's Thakurgaon district unit organised the rally at Thakurgaon Government Boys' High School field. AL district unit President Dabirul Islam, MP, presided over the rally.

Mentioning that the national election will be held in December 2018, the PM said, "If you vote for boat, we'll present you a Sonar Bangla with continued development."

Hasina further said, “The symbol of boat means your development and peace. It'll provide you an improved lifestyle."

Criticising BNP leaders, Hasina said Khaleda Zia's two sons looted Tk 980.20 crore from banks.

About the imprisonment of Khaleda in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, she questioned why the BNP was now waging a movement against the court verdict. “The court has passed the verdict. Today, she's a convict. The fund for orphans had been plundered. What's the movement for? In the Holy Quran, Allah also keeps a provision for punishment if the orphans are not given their dues.”

The premier said the fund came for orphans in 1991, but Khaleda embezzled the whole amount without giving a single penny to the beneficiaries.

Coming down hard on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, she said he was spreading falsehood daily. "There should be a limit of spreading falsehood. Allah will also be displeased if anyone spreads falsehood the whole day.”

The PM said Fakhrul was the state minister for the civil aviation during the BNP regime from 2001 to 2006 when he destroyed Biman. "They can destroy but can't create anything. They can plunder people's properties, but can't give them anything."

She went on to say, “He [Fakhrul] is a man of your area, but he shut down Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari when he was the state minister."

Coming to power in 2008, the AL government reopened Saidpur, Rajshahi and Barisal airports, purchased eight aircraft and the process is on to procure two more, the PM said.

People at the rally addressed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Thakurgaon Government Boys' High School ground yesterday. Photo: PMO

In her 36-minute speech, Hasina focused on various development activities of the government. “We want to develop the country and change the people's fate," she said, adding that no one will remain homeless and hungry in the country.

At the rally, the PM said a university, a special economic zone, an IT park, a new police station and a hostel for professional women would be established in Thakurgaon.

Earlier, the PM inaugurated 33 development projects and laid the foundation stones of 33 others.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, AL Presidium Member Ramesh Chandra Sen, AL joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and AL Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, among others, addressed the rally.