Apparently admitting failure of the AL's April 30 deadline to unseat the BNP-Jamaat-led coalition government, she said, "You may say the deadline has failed, but the movement has not."

Addressing a crowded press conference at the AL central office, Hasina said the deadline her party gave was a warning to the government and it has achieved primary success. "People have voiced no-confidence in the government by responding to the call for dislodging it by the deadline."

The leader of the opposition in parliament went on, "Today (April 30) is the beginning of an end and there is nothing to be frustrated."

The AL chief said fresh programmes would be announced soon to unseat the government. She urged all sections of people and political parties to unitedly steer the ongoing movement to its logical end.

Referring to the incidents in the last one month and 'aggressive behaviour' of the government, Hasina said people don't want the coalition to cling to power anymore. People now want mid-term polls to give a fresh mandate, she added.

" The government is totally isolated from people and wants to continue in power through repression and atrocities", the former prime minister said, pointing to the mass arrests ahead of her party's deadline. The government would not do this if it enjoyed confidence of people, she thought.

Responding to a question on credibility crisis of the AL as its deadline flopped, Hasina said, "Of course not. I don't think so. Giving ultimatum is nothing unusual in politics."

Brushing aside reports of probable frustration among her party leaders and workers in the wake of failure of the deadline, she said, "Our party men as well as people are not frustrated. In future, people will come forward with us more vigorously."

Without elaborating she however said a certain quarter might be frustrated as they were waiting to be beneficiaries of the fall of the government by April 30.

About government allegation of a conspiracy behind the April 30 deadline, the AL chief said, "We believe in healthy politics, not in conspiracy. So, we did not create disorder despite instigation from the government."

At least 20,000 people including opposition workers, innocent men and women, students, businessmen and employees were arrested in the run-up to the AL deadline.

Asked about non-governmental organisation (NGO) Proshika's links to the AL ultimatum to unseat the government, Hasina replied, "Have you ever heard that any NGO has toppled a government?"

About AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil's declaration to use the trump card to bring down the government, she said, "If he (Jalil) has the card, it will be shown in time." When the general secretary of a party says something, the party chief has to be aware of it, she added.

On the government move for 14th amendment to the constitution, Hasina said, "They (government) are extending retirement age of the chief justice to get a man of their choice as chief of the caretaker government."

Reacting to BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan's call to the AL leadership to apologise to the nation regarding the deadline, Hasina said, "Why should we apologise? They (government) have to seek pardon from people very soon due to their mass killings, repression, corruption and other crimes."

Hasina said she is scheduled to visit US on May 6 to see her daughter and son.

Party leaders present at the press conference included Abdus Samad Azad, Zillur Rahman, Abdul Jalil, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Sajeda Chowdhury, Motia Chowdhury, Sheikh Selim, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Abdus Shaheed, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Asaduzzaman Noor, and Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin.