Prime Minister Khaleda Zia said in parliament yesterday those who want to brand Bangladesh a 'religious extremist country' and cannot take it as a 'Muslim-majority liberal democracy' have staged the August 17 blasts, staying behind the veil of Islam.

"The government attaches

highest importance to national security and it will soon unearth the nucleus of the anti-state conspiracy," the prime minister said, assuring the people that all possible measures would be taken to stop recurrence of such terrorist attacks.

In her first remarks about the countrywide blasts, the leader of the house also said, "I want to assure you [countrymen] that the govern-

ment will identify the perpetrators of the blasts and bring them to book by deploying all its might and resources."

"If necessary we will take assistance from the country's foreign friends."

Khaleda Zia described the attackers as the people active against the country's sovereignty and economic progress.

"Those who can't stand Bangladesh's economic progress have committed this heinous act at a time when I was on state visit to China," she observed.

Referring to the international community, the prime minister said that Bangladesh would never bow to any pressure or intimidation by terrorists. "We have never surrendered to any pressure or got defeated by terrorism. And we'll never do so in future," she said.

Khaleda amid wild desk thumping by ruling alliance lawmakers also proposed enacting new laws to curb criminal activities.

"We must review the existing laws in the changed global perspective and it's necessary to update some laws to combat terrorism," said the leader of the house.

"I propose stringent laws to make it hard for the terrorists to stage blasts, make and stockpile bombs, and gather bomb-making materials," she said, seeking co-operation from all quarters.

Besides, she categorically said that her government's goal is to root out terrorism and violence, be those under religious, political or whatever covers. And to make it happen the lawenforcers must be strengthened and modernised, she added.

Khaleda, also the chairperson of the ruling BNP, the motive for the August 17 attacks was nothing but to weaken the three bases of the nation. "I can tell the people about the identity and aim of the perpetrators."

She said the perpetrators of the blasts are trying to hide under the veil of religion, but they won't succeed no matter how brilliant disguise they wear.

"We hope the nucleus of this antistate conspiracy would soon be unveiled."

The prime minister was supposed to address the nation immediately after the near-simultaneous explosions, but scrapped the plan. Finally, three weeks after the blasts, yesterday she made a speech on the incident.

"We consider parliament as the most appropriate place to discuss all the issues of national interest," she said at the beginning of her speech.

Urging the main opposition Awami League to join the ongoing parliament session, she said, "You should not stay at home on grounds of security. Join the parliament, we want to hear your suggestions."

Calling on the people to raise their voices against terrorism, she said, "As we are a nation of limited resource, we can't afford to have CCTVs. But so what. Eyes of our 14 crore people will be our surveillance system. And that's the way we can ensure security for our

people. We will achieve this goal through concerted efforts," she observed.

Apparently in response to the criticism of her party's forming government with two religious parties, she said BNP has allied only with those religion-based parties who believe in democracy and the constitution.

Khaleda urged the religious parties outside the four-party alliance to follow democratic norms and culture.

Presenting a vivid perspective of the terrible blasts that three people dead and the entire country shaken to the core, the prime minister said the attackers had staged the blasts within an hour of her departure for Beijing.

UNB adds: The prime minister defined three forms of terrorismsocial terrorism, communal terrorism, and political terrorismand claimed that excepting one or two incidents, her government eliminated all kinds of communal and religious terrorism.

On political terrorism, she said the country is no stranger to incidents of bomb blasts. But, she said, the perpetrators have used the name of Islam, the religion of peace. The attacks were well orchestrated and carried out with precision.

Citing the 9/11 terror attacks in America, recent explosions in Madrid and London, Khaleda said the character of terrorism in international domain is quite different from what has hap-penedin Bangladesh onAugust 17.

In this context, she forewarned that the terrorist acts in Bangladesh might take a dangerous and fearsome turn and called for rock-solid unity of the people against this syndrome.