DHAKA: Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said that people should remain alert against any conspiracy against the country. 

Awami League supporters at home and abroad should remain united and work towards strengthening the hands of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to thwart any such conspiracy, he said.

He came up with the assertion while he was addressing a large gathering of expatriates on Sunday in the north-western city of Manchester, UK organized by the Greater Manchester Awami League on the eve of the founding anniversary of Awami League.

In reply to questions from the audience, the Foreign Minister said that there has always been a conspiracy against Awami League to dislodge it from power.

He also said that it has been going on since the killing of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his family members in 1975. Bangabandhu's two daughters survived the heinous killing as they were abroad. Since her return to country in May, 1981 after having been elected as President of Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, daughter of the Bangabandhu, has been struggling for the people to ensure their right to vote and right to food.

She has continued with the struggle and has achieved great success in implementing the dream of the Father of the Nation to build a 'Sonar Bangla', he added.

He also said that Sheikh Hasina has turned the country into a development model for the world, with her strong determination and self less work.

Replying to a query on the ongoing trials of war criminals, the Foreign Minister said that some of the cases are in appellate division and that the judicial process is taking its own course.

Foreign Minister touched upon some of the key achievements of the government of Sheikh Hasina since she became Prime Minister for the first time in 1996. He asked the party workers to use that information to project positive image of Bangladesh. He also instructed them to engage with the political leaders, parliamentarians and academia in the UK to provide them right information about the country, the government and its achievements.

Some 300 Leaders and their representatives including some women leaders from the towns in north-western region such as Oldham, Hyde, Leeds, Liverpool, Wirral and others were present. A delegation from Scotland Awami League also attended the event.

Foreign Minister left for Jeddah on Monday to attend the 41st session of the OIC Foreign Ministers.

BDST: 1654 HRS, JUN 16, 2014