leader of the Opposition In Parliament and Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina yesterday said that her party was compelled to sit with Jamaat-e-Islami In Jatiya Sangsad" to save the country's nascent democracy.

"We are bound to sit with Jamaat leaders because they are elected members of Parliament." she said while addressing a condolence meeting for Jahanara Imam organised by the Ghatak Dalal Nlrmul Jatiya Samannaya Committee at Suhrawardi Uddyan in the city.

Clarifying AL's policy towards Jamaat. Hasina said that Jamaat won the last elections in some constituencies since the BNP had helped the anti-liberation party get rehabilitated in the country's politics. Those who are responsible for rehabilitation of the killers of 1971 In politics should be tried along with the war criminals." she said. Hasina said that the AL would quit Parliament If the people demanded It. "But we will not resign from Parliament on our own. We donj want to be responsible for dissolution of Parliament", she added.

Calling for a united movement against communalism she said. "Let there be no misunderstanding among us. If there (s any division among us. It will only allow the fundamentalists to grow stronger." she said at the meeting presided over by Abdur Razzak MP.

"I could have become the first woman prime minister of the country if I had Joined hands with' Jamaat and Jatiya Party after the last election. But 1 reject any such Idea with contempt." Hasina said.

The AL chief sa|d that BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia held a meeting with Jamaat leader Golam Azam before the last elections to share seats in l*3fllament. That meeting benefited Jamaat and it won 18 seats.” she added.

Hasina maintained that the rehabilitation of Jamapt was completed through another meeting between egum Khaleda Zia and Goiat Azam after Ihe elections on aring the women's sea - in Parliament.

"Golam Azam was Riv< i citizenship according to agreements reached at the two meetings.” she said.

The AI- chief accused late president Ziaur Rahman of allowing Golam Azam to enter Bangladesh.

"Bangabandhu Sheikh Muji-bur Rahman declared general amnesty but the amnesty do not allow any killer or rapist of the liberation war period to go scot free. There are laws to punish the war criminals." Hasina said.