The Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader told a rally that India was responsible for her husband's death in 1981 because he had attempted to make the country ``self-reliant''. "India is responsible for killing Ziaur Rahman as he did not accept Indian hegemony,'' the United News of Bangladesh news agency quoted her as saying.

Zia did not elaborate but the claim comes as her party increased its attacks on Bangladesh's ruling Awami League government, who last month agreed to study a plan to allow India to transport goods via Bangladesh to its isolated northeastern states. Zia's BNP is violently opposed to the plan and has argued India will use the proposed transhipment routes to transport troops across Bangladesh.

The government has dismissed theOpposition objections, saying only Bangladeshi vehicles will be used to transport Indian goods.Zia has called for ``all-out resistance'' to the plans and has already held a series of protest strikes.

Zia told the rally Wednesday the BNP would scrap all ``anti-people'' deals the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed signed with India if voted to power in general elections set for 2001. ``We will revoke all treaties and agreements with India against the national interest and state,'' the former prime minister said.

Zia's husband Rahman was killed in an abortive military coup.Zia, describing the Awami League government as Indian agents, said it was tryingto give a ``corridor'' to India in the name of ``transhipment''. ``The government has to reverse its decision in the interest of our economy and security,'' she added. The government has said the transhipment deal could bring in some 20 billion taka ($400 million) annually and create 250,000 jobs in Bangladesh.

-- Agence France Presse