I care more about country than my life, says Hasina

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A day after reports that militants were out to assassinate her, Awami League (AL) president Sheikh Hasina Sunday said she cares more for a thriving Bangladesh than about her own life, report UNB and bdnews24.com.
"Today's newspapers have published stories on threats to my life. I want to tell you straight that I don't bow down to anyone but Allah, and I don't care much about my own life. I only care about a thriving and developing Bangladesh." Hasina said at a rally at Tangail Shaheed Smriti Udyan.
Indian television network CNN-IBN made a report Saturday, according to which Indian intelligence agencies had warned the former prime minister that a team of six militants of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami Bangladesh (HUJI) were out to kill her. Newspapers printed the story Sunday.
Hasina urged the people of Tangail to 'vote for boat', promising to revive the area's dying handloom industry. "If voted to power, we'll take necessary steps to provide special loans for the local weavers to help revive the dying handloom industry," she said.
She also pledged to set up a weaving village in Tangail and build the Dhaleswari Bridge. She said Tangail will be built as a city of culture.
The Awami League president called on voters to wrench the country from "the looters' hands." She also called on all to "vote for boat and plough", and bring victory for the 'grand alliance.'
Hasina had earlier addressed a meeting at Gulla Primary School in Bashail, which formed part of her daylong election campaign in the Gazipur-Tangail-Mymensigh region.
As the Gulla meeting site was adjacent to the Dhaka-Tangail Highway, a large number of bus passengers stopped their vehicles and listened to Hasina's election speech.
She urged voters to rescue the country from "looters." "The news of BNP and Jamaat corruption has been publicised internationally. I don't have to tell people how they extorted huge bribes from foreign companies, laundered that money and deposited it with foreign banks," said the former prime minister.
"Basail will be upgraded to a municipality, if we are voted to power, and this area will have electricity and proper irrigation provisions. Any locality with a population of five to six thousand will have a health care centre," she also promised.
Meanwhile, at Kaliakoir in Gazipur, Hasina said people across the country want a change, and the December 29 election will be a battle against corruption and terrorism for peace, stability and prosperity.
"BNP-Jamaat regime plundered national resources and patronised militancy during its rule. It is internationally proved that they smuggled out money, and tarnished the image of the country," she told an election meeting at the Sheikh Mujib Degree College ground there on her way to Tangail.
Blaming the BNP-led alliance government and the caretaker government for failing to check the price-hike of essentials, Hasina said during her rule people could buy rice at Tk 10 per kg, which is now Tk 40 per kg, and soybean oil at Tk 28 per litre, which rose to Tk 130 per litre.
She said if corruption and terrorism become the policy of a party, such party cannot do any welfare for the people.
"No words can express the plight of the people," the Awami League president said, adding that if her party goes to power, she would bring down the prices within the reach of the common people.
She also promised to double the allowances of elderly people, women and freedom-fighters.