"The common people will not be benefited by this budget. This will line the ruling coalition men's pockets only," she said speaking at a meeting commemorating Khorshed Alam Bachchu, a city Awami League (AL) leader who was murdered last month.

Hasina, also president of AL, said the BNP-led government has miserably failed to check the price spiral of essentials and downslide of law and order in the country.

"When the people are struggling to have square meals a day, the family members of the prime minister and the ministers are amassing wealth," she alleged.

Referring to the arrest of Bidisha, beleaguered wife of Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, Hasina criticised the government for "torturing" her in the name of interrogation.

"This kind of torture on a woman in police custody is unthinkable in a civilised country," the opposition leader said, questioning the motive behind her arrest.

She accused the government high-ups of interfering in the family life of others.

About the High Court order that banned lawyers' agitation on the court premises, Hasina said, "This has restricted the lawyers' constitutional rights."

Pointing finger to Law Minister Moudud Ahmed, the former prime minister questioned, "If a convicted person who got presidential indemnity becomes the law minister, then how rule of law could be established in the country?"

Hasina slammed the government for its failure to punish the criminals involved in the series of grenade attacks including that of August 21.

"Had proper investigation into the grenade attack been conducted, the names of the prime minister's son and the home minister would come up," she claimed.

She alleged the government had released about 70,000 listed criminals from jails and started killing the leaders and activists of AL branding them as criminals.

Hasina said the government has prepared a list of AL leaders and activists across the country to kill them in the so-called crossfire.

Awami Ainjibi Parishad organised the meeting, which was presided over by its President Sahara Khatun and addressed by AL leaders Obaidul Quader, Mohammad Hanif and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, and Supreme Court Bar Association leaders Enayetur Rahim, Ozaer Faruk and Abdul Baset Majumder.