November 07, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 8, 1429

DHAKA, Nov 6: Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after receiving medical treatment in the United States, vowing to lead her party in parliamentary elections next month.

Authorities deployed elite forces, troops and hundreds of armed police at the airport for the arrival of Hasina, who has been granted bail in all five corruption cases the interim government had filed against her.

The army-backed government had detained the former premier last year after taking over, but released her on medical parole in June.

“I call upon all Bangladeshis to remain united and face any attempt by anyone to thwart the election,” she told reporters after meeting party leaders at the airport. “There is no alternative to an election at this stage.”

Hasina did not say who was trying to stop the election but was apparently referring to rival Begum Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which has yet to confirm its participation.

“The election must be held on schedule to return power to an elected government and restore democracy at the soonest,” Hasina said.

Hasina also said she would forge an alliance with other parties to win the election, saying Bangladesh was passing through a critical time and needed unified parties to work for the welfare of the people.

“But such an alliance would definitely exclude those who opposed the country’s independence and indulged in war crimes,” she said.—Reuters