DHAKA, 10 September 2005 — Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Khaleda Zia pledged to deal sternly with anyone trying to create terror in the country and project Bangladesh as an extremist nation, sources said.

She told the Parliament Thursday that the government was reviewing existing security laws and mulling new ones against terrorism and punish those responsible for last month’s bomb attacks.

Some 434 small bombs exploded in all but one of the country’s main towns and cities on Aug. 17, killing three people and injuring over 100. Leaflets bearing Jamatul Mujahedeen’s name and calling for the introduction of Islamic law were found at the blast sites. The group wants to establish Islamic rule in the secular democratic country.

“Those who can’t accept Bangladesh as a Muslim-majority liberal democracy have carried out the attacks wearing the veils of Islam,” Khaleda told Parliament, which is expected to debate the violence. “We hope that the nucleus of this anti-nation conspiracy would soon be unveiled.” Khaleda said her government is determined to eliminate “all forms of terrorism — be it religious or political.”

She said the two Islamic parties that are included in her four-party coalition government believe in democracy — not terrorism.

The main opposition Awami League has boycotted the session alleging that the government does not allow its lawmakers to criticize the government’s policies, a charge Khaleda has denied. “We decided not to go in because we had no assurance from the speaker or the government of a free and full-scale parliamentary discussion on the bombings,” Awami League’s deputy leader Abdul Hamid said.

Awami League chief Hasina Wajed said yesterday: “The prime minister’s statement was an effort, like she did in the past, to protect the perpetrators behind the blasts.”

“Many of those arrested were directly or indirectly associated with Jamaat-e-Islami party,” Hasina said. Jamaat-e-Islami is a partner of Khaleda’s coalition government. “We will continue to boycott Parliament,” Hasina said. —

Additional input from AP.