"We don't do business but do politics for the welfare of the people. So, the donation and assistance that we receive from our well-wishers should not be treated as extortion," she said while talking to party leaders at her Sudha Sadan residence.

Meherpur District AL President Joinal Abedin, Awami Ulema League leader Liaquat Hossain Belali, Juba Mohila League General Secretary Prof Apu Ukil and its central leader Sabina Akhter Tuhin met Hasina at her residence.

They quoted Hasina as saying that many mills and factories in the public sector were in operation during the five-year rule of the AL government when workers and employees of these mills used to pay subscriptions voluntarily to the party fund.

The meeting sources said that Hasina instructed her party leaders and workers to have patience taking into consideration the situation now prevailing in the country.

Hasina expressed her deep concern over health condition of the party's detained General Secretary Abdul Jalil who is now undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital.

Meanwhile, security in and around Hasina's Sudha Sadan residence has been tightened since Sunday as the law enforcers are not allowing more than two leaders of the party at a time to enter the house to meet their party chief.

In the evening, Sheikh Hasina went to the Banani residence of her cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, who is now in jail, to see her ailing aunt.

Motia Chowdhury and Khaled Mahmud Chowdhury accompanied Hasina.