Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, took a dig at the chief of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia, calling her a leader of militancy and terror.
Hasina was addressing a rally in Dhaka to mark first anniversary of last year's controversial polls and homecoming day of Bangladesh's founder and Hasina's father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from captivity in Pakistan in 1972.
The prime minister said that the trial of war criminals would continue and no one can obstruct it. She also said that Khaleda held countrymen hostage in the name of blockade.
"She is the leader of militancy, terror and corruption. She cannot be a leader of political party. She kills people," Hasina said.
Bangladesh stepped up a crackdown on BNP, arresting its vice-president amid anti-government protests that left seven dead and injured hundreds.
A standoff between Hasina and Zia has worsened steadily since Monday, when protests erupted over last year's general election, which the BNP boycotted.
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The renewed tension between the political rivals raises the spectre of a long, destabilizing spell of unrest for Bangladesh and its economy, though some question whether Khaleda and her party can bring down the government.
Khaleda has demanded that Hasina give up her post, with a new vote to be held under a neutral administration.
Meanwhile, Hasina assured people of developing the country to 'golden Bangladesh' on 50th Independence Day.
"When we will celebrate golden jubilee of our independence in 2021, we will make our country free from poverty and turn it to a developed nation and transform it into real golden Bangladesh," said Hasina.
What was East Pakistan at the end of British rule in 1947 broke away into independent Bangladesh in 1971 after a war between Bangladeshi nationalists, backed by India, and Pakistani forces.