Friday, December 23 2005 15:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dhaka: Bangladesh's Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her rival Sheikh Hasina Wajed of the main opposition Awami League party are locked in a war-of-words in what is being seen here as a warm-up to campaign for parliamentary elections set for early 2007.

Both have threatened to take the other to jail on charges of sedition as Zia dumped opposition demands for electoral reforms, without which it has threatened to stay away from the balloting.

In the past two days Zia and Sheikh Hasina, a former prime minister, who have not met each other since the 2001 polls have been holding series of public rallies to gather support as well as display show of strength by bringing is huge supporters at the rallies.

Zia at a rally in western Jessore district yesterday (Dec 22,2005) said the opposition would fail in their 'conspiracy' to break the BNP-led four-party alliance.

"They have joined hands to turn Bangladesh into a vassal state and put the country into the hands of terrorists and bombers," she said referring to the opposition.

On the opposition's demand to oust the Jamaat-e-Islami party from the alliance, she said, "You can break the four-party alliance. It is there and it will be there."

Zia's five-year term ends this year. Her ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led four-party Islamist alliance came to power in 2001 with a landslide two-third majority.

But in her last year in this term the issue of militants seeking to establish Islamic rule in Bangladesh has become a thorny issue to settle. The opposition has pegged their latest anti-Government campaign on the issue with fingers pointed at major alliance partner fundamentalist Jamaat as the party behind militants. The Jamaat denounced wugh charges as 'baseless.'

Sheikh Hasina in turn speaking at a rally organized by her Awami League-led 14-party alliance in northwestern Rajshahi district also yesterday retorted against the Prime Minister's threat of sedition charges against those 'speaking irresponsibly to incite' violence in the country, said Zia was a 'traitor' for forming government with the Jamaat which opposed the very birth of Bangladesh.

"You talk of sedition charges, but you are a traitor yourself," she said and flayed Zia for speaking more strongly against the opposition than the militants.

Zia warned of treason charge for making inciting and unconstitutional statements to create anarchy in an apparent reference to Sheikh Hawina's speeches about the country's situation.

"One leader is giving provocative and misleading statements. Refrain from bluvting out such statements or face treason charge and punishment. So, henceforth, speak with restraint," Zia said in a Dhaka rally on Wednesday.

The Daily Star newspaper, however in its editorial today sought national unity in this time of crisis.

It warned that 'time is fast running out. We hope good sense will prevail all around. Unity and not division is the call of the time.'