"The government is killing people by special forces in the name of maintaining law and order. Such killings are violation of human rights," said Hasina who returned home yesterday ending a 46-day visit to the US and the UK.

However, she did not name the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), which attributed deaths of some 60 people to 'crossfire'.

Talking to reporters at Zia International Airport, the AL chief said, "The BNP-Jamaat-led alliance is patronising criminals for its own purpose. How crime can be eliminated by the people who are the originators of it?" she asked.

The central leaders of the AL and its front organisations went to the airport to receive Hasina.

Hasina left Dhaka on October 21 to attend an international conference in New York and also for better treatment for hearing injuries she was suffering since the August 21 grenade attacks.

The AL chief will hold a press conference today at 3:00pm at her party's Dhanmondi office. She is likely to speak about the latest political scenario and the AL's united move with other opposition parties in the oust-government movement.