A vested quarter is repeatedly trying to kill me, she said.

Hasina was addressing a mass reception accorded to her by a cross-section of people and political parties at Lagordia College auditorium here Sunday.

She has sought positive role of the expatriates in removing the "autocratic government" through vigorous mass movement to free people from what she said a tangle of terrorism, corruption, insecurity and price spirals.

" People are passing through acute hardship in the wake of abnormal price hike of essentials and insecurity. They are scared of criminals and communal forces. We must get rid of such a situation," she told the reception.

Depicting a vivid picture of the August 21 grenade attack on her rally, Hasina said it is a black episode for the Bengali nation.

Hasina said after the grenade attack people from across the country had rushed to her to express sympathy and demanded tough action programmes to oust the government. " But I did not do that as I did not want to see dead bodies and anarchy in the country.

"In an emotion-charged voice, Hasina said she is ready to sacrifice her life in exchange for freedom and happiness of the people of Bangladesh." I do not need to be a prime minister, I want security and rights of my people."

"If they want, they can kill me, but don't kill any more of my party leaders and workers. I do not want to see the corpses of my party members. I can no longer bear the sight of the plight of my people," Hasina added.

Hasina arrived in New York on Sunday from London.

Hasina said she had not thought that she would be able to deliver speech before the Bangladeshi expatriates in the US city after the August 21 grenade attacks." When the grenades dropped and exploded one after another, I thought it was perhaps the last moment of my life. I have seen death from a close distance."

She told her audience that 22 of her party leaders and workers were killed and nearly one thousand wounded in the attacks. Many of them are still bearing the grenade splinters in their bodies.

She deplored that the Awami League MPs were not allowed to discuss the incident in parliament while the Speaker did not inquire about the attack on the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.

She reiterated her demand for international inquiry into the August 21 incident and sought cooperation from the expatriates.

Hasina said Bangladesh topped the list in respect of journalist repression.

The money sent by the expatriates could not be invested productively, she said, as ministers, MPs and leaders of the alliance government are plundering the money. "As a result, investment has decreased to 70 per cent while foreign investors are gradually packing up from Bangladesh. The only task of this regime is to enjoy power and make money," she added.

Chaired by USA Awami League president Prof Khalid Hasan, the function was also addressed by AL leaders Kazi Zafrullah MP and Abdul Mannan, Bangladesh Society of New York President Majib-ur-Rahman, US AL vice-president Farasat Ali, Texas AL president Shamsur Rahman and Aktar Hossain.