"Seven weeks have already passed since the present caretaker government assumed office. The Election Commission has also been reconstituted. So, I hope the caretaker government and the Election Commission will take proper steps to hold the election by June," Hasina said.

Hasina was speaking at a meeting of the AL Central Working Committee at her Dhanmondi office in the city. The meeting discussed the latest political situation and mulled reforms within the party, among other things.

Hasina said the central council of the party will be held when the state of emergency is lifted.

On reforms in the party, the AL chief said reformation has been an ongoing process in her party as they have always brought about reforms and changes in the party--and will continue to do so in the future--as per demands of the time.

She said the EC could now start preparing the voter list with photographs in the six divisional headquarters for holding elections within June.

An AL delegation placed the demand at a meeting with the chief election commissioner last week.

Hasina also urged the caretaker government to make sure transparent ballot boxes are used at all polling centres across the country during the elections.

Terming the present caretaker government the outcome of the AL-led grand alliance's movement, Hasina welcomed the reforms introduced in the EC, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and its initiative to separate the judiciary from the executive.

She said the interim government should finish the reform work at the earliest possible time.

Referring to the recent EC reconstitution, she said now the government should take steps against the 345 politically appointed election officials.

Hasina also demanded reforms in the Public Service Commission as, she said, the highest body for recruiting government officials was severely politicised by the immediate past BNP-led government.

She accused the BNP-Jamaat coalition government of repressing, harassing and killing leaders and workers of opponent political parties, looting and plundering public wealth. She asked the caretaker government to initiate a thorough investigation into the matters and bring the corrupt BNP-Jamaat men to trial.

The AL president also demanded investigations into the killings of former AL lawmakers Ahsanullah Master and Shah AMS Kibria, the August 21 grenade attack on an AL rally, the bomb attack on British High Commissioner Anwar Choudhury, smuggling of 10 truckloads of arms in Chittagong, and the countrywide bomb blasts on August 17.

Hasina said Jamaat-e-Islami is involved in the entire range of criminal activities and asked the caretaker government why only one Jamaat leader has been there among the corruption suspects. She also asked why the Jamaat leaders who looted relief goods and indulged in criminal activities in the country are not being arrested.