"The next polls will be held in due time under the existing provisions of the constitution," she reiterated while addressing a public meeting at Khan Jahan Ali College ground here in the afternoon.

Khaleda, also chairperson of the ruling BNP, said the main opposition Awami League (AL) is opposing its once favourite caretaker government concept and demanding reforms in the Election Commission (EC) after all its efforts to consolidate a movement against the government have failed.

"The people are living in peace. They did not respond to their (opposition's) call. Even their politics of 'trump card' has failed. They have no issue in hand," she added.

The prime minister reminded all that the BNP-led alliance came to power through 2001 polls when the president, the chief of caretaker government and the chief election commissioner were all appointed by the Awami League under the existing rules.

"Even they appointed those who joined the Janatar Mancha as election commissioners defying our protests," she said, adding the people, however, voted the BNP-led alliance to power as they wanted to get rid of AL's misrule.

Referring to the production of shrimp in the region and the need to maintain quality of the export-earning item, the prime minister announced that a shrimp research centre would be set up in Bagerhat.

Chaired by local MP MAH Selim, the rally was addressed, among others, by Health and Family Welfare Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Jatiya Sangsad Whip M Ashraf Hossain, Prime Minister's Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury, Khulna Mayor Sheikh Tayabur Rahman, Bagerhat district BNP General Secretary Shamsul Alam Talukder and district Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Moshiur Rahman.

The prime minister inaugurated the Tk 5.8-crore Bagerhat town protection embankment on the bank of the river Bhairab, Tk 19.40-crore Bagerhat Police Lines on 10 acres at Shingrai and the 50-bed Kachua Upazila Health Complex.

Khaleda also laid the foundation of the annex building of Bagerhat Press Club. She visited the shrine of Khan Jahan Ali and offered fateha there. She prayed for peace and prosperity of the country.

The prime minister said her government has improved law and order and retrieved the sinking economy it inherited from the past Awami League regime.

She said a congenial atmosphere is prevailing in the country and investors from different parts of the world, including the USA, Middle East, India, Singapore and Malaysia are showing interest to come to Bangladesh.