"I seek blessings of all so that we can build Bangladesh as a secular democratic country," she told a delegation of the Christian community while exchanging Christmas greetings at Sudha Sadan on the eve of Christmas Day.

She sought the blessings when the Awami League-led grand alliance decided to participate in the general election 2007, slated for January 22.

"We want people of all religions to enjoy their religious festivals freely," she said.

The 65-member delegation from Bangladesh Christian Association, led by its president former MP Advocate Promod Mankin, met the Awami League chief and presented her Xmas and New Year cards.

Hasina cut an Xmas cake and offered greetings to the Christian community of Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world.

The Christians will celebrate Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the community, today to mark the birthday of Jesus Christ.

The Awami League chief alleged that the BNP-Jamaat alliance, after assuming power through the "rigged" polls in 2001, repressed and killed minority people as well as Awami League leaders and workers.

"The BNP-Jamaat alliance used religion as a tool of political gains, but Awami League believes in secularism," she said.