In her previous addresses to the nation the PM declared her firm commitment to curb corruption and check bomb attacks, and blamed the previous Awami League (AL) government for corruption and patronage of crimes.

But addressing the nation yesterday she shifted her stance.

The PM in her earlier speeches blamed the AL government for "destroying" country's economy. On October 19, 2001, she said the AL government had turned Bangladesh's economy, known as emerging tiger during the BNP rule, into a sick cat.

In her speech a year ago, she said her government had achieved a lot of economic successes and progress, but yesterday she admitted that the country's economy was passing a hard time. She however put the blame on the global economic crisis.

Khaleda said her government could not be alert to the increasing activities of bombers. She regretted the failure of the administration and intelligence agencies in detecting bombers in advance.

"These bombings have tarnished the nation's image, struck at peace and security in public life, especially the reputation of Islam, the religion of peace," she said and assured that measures have been taken to overcome the weaknesses of the agencies.

The prime minister in her address pledged to root out the latest syndrome of bomb-terrorism from Bangladesh as she claimed that her government has identified the masterminds behind the bombings.

About corruption, the PM said: "We could not succeed much in fighting corruption as it had spread over every sphere of society." She claimed the BNP government had succeeded in curbing graft during its previous tenure of 1991-96.

"Corruption in Bangladesh had become an issue of discussion in international forums before we assumed office in 1991 and 2001," Khaleda said. But she claimed that the government measures have brought down the scale of corruption.

The prime minister mentioned that measures have been taken to bring transparency and accountability in the government dealings and the Anti-Corruption Commission has been formed aiming to root out corruption.

On the present state of economy, she said the country is facing adverse situation in every sphere, not only in economy and trade. She however defended her administration saying it is not wise to compare the present scenario with that of four years ago.

Assuming power on October 10, 2001, Khaleda declared her government's first task that was rooting out corruption and crime. One year later she sought more time to check crime as the law and order did not improve as per expectation.

"It is not possible to eliminate crimes entirely in one year because it has spread in every sphere of the society like cancer in the last five years. That is why I am seeking some more time," she said in her address to the nation in 2002.

In her 2004 anniversary speech the prime minister categorically said her government would not tolerate any kind of terrorism in Bangladesh, be it "in the name of politics, religion, ideals or social revolution."

Khaleda said the criminals responsible for the August 21 grenade attack on an AL rally in Dhaka must be found out so that such incidents do not occur again. She said all measures have been taken to track down the perpetrators.