She was addressing a rally at Phulbari Government College ground yesterday. The rally was organised to protest the killing of at least six people in BDR and police firing during demonstration against Asia Energy coal mine project on August 26.

It was also part of the opposition campaign to force the government to implement the opposition-proposed electoral reforms.

On the prime minister's recent remark that election would be held as per constitutional provision, the AL president said Khaleda Zia wants to retain power by violating the constitution.

"The prime minister knows very well that the people will not vote for the four-party coalition in the next elections for their massive corruption and misrule," she told the rally.

The AL chief said elections will be held as per constitutional process after implementation of the proposed reform of caretaker government and the Election Commission. "The people will not allow the four-party alliance to rig the next elections."

Demanding immediate implementation of the agreement between the National Oil, Gas and Mineral Resource Protection Committee and the government, Hasina said the government will have to take all responsibilities if any unpleasant incident takes place for dilly-dallying with the agreement.

She urged the people to protect their votes as they have protected their mineral resources at the cost of their lives.

Congratulating the people of Phulbari on their movement and achieving the victory against the government, Hasina said Awami League will remain with them.

Calling Energy Advisor Mahmudur Rahman "liar" for his statement that the AL had signed the deal with Asia Energy, she said it is not Awami League but BNP signed the agreement in 1994.

"The BNP always came to power by selling country's resources. I would have been the prime minister through the 2001 election if I had made the deal with Asia Energy," Hasina told her audience.

She alleged that the BNP struck all the deals with foreign companies to take kickbacks from them.

Hasina sought vote for "Boat", the election symbol of AL, saying that if Awami League returned to power, it would remove corruption and terrorism and bring down the prices of necessities.

JSD President Hasanul Huq Inu alleged the BNP-Jamaat alliance wants to come to power through backdoor by eliminating the opposition.

He demanded electoral reforms to ensure a free and fair election.

Chaired by Phulbari AL President Tofazzel Hossain, the rally was also addressed, among others, by Motia Chowdhury, Pankaj Bhattacharya, Nurul Islam, Abdur Rahim, Mostafizur Rahman Fizar MP, Abdul Mannan, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Iqbalur Rahman and Prof Nazma Rahman.