Dhaka - Bangladesh's prime minister-elect Sheikh Hasina Wazed said Wednesday her government would work toward forming a regional task force to fight terrorism in South Asia.

"We will initiate the move to form a South Asian task force to ensure peace combating terrorism," Hasina told a crowded press conference in Dhaka, the first since her Awami League-led alliance won a landslide victory in Monday's elections.

"Progress is impossible without ensuring peace," Hasina said.

The Awami League's election manifesto endorsed a common anti-terrorism strategy for the region which is frequently battered by attacks.

Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and other nations should jointly work to face the challenges posed by terrorists whether regional and domestic, said the 61-year-old leader who herself was targeted many times by terrorists during her political career which began in 1981.

Emphasizing a strong role from India and Pakistan, the two nuclear-armed regional powers, Hasina said terrorism is a big problem in the region and all the countries should work together to root out the problem to ensure peace and security of their people.

Rejecting allegations of sheltering Indian insurgents on Bangladesh soil, Hasina said her party never allows acts of violence and terrorism.

"In future as well we will never allow anyone to use Bangladesh land for insurgency against anyone." (dpa)