The Awami League (AL) chief also accused the prime minister, her family and cabinet ministers, lawmakers and party leaders of plundering public money in thousands of crore taka during the present regime, adding that they have been 'hatching a conspiracy' to come back to power at any cost.

"And for this the prime minister neither wants dialogue nor is interested in carrying out the reforms," Hasina said asserting that reforms must have to be implemented before holding any election in the country.

She was speaking at her 60th birthday programme held at her Sudha Sadan residence at Dhanmondi in the capital.

Hasina also blamed government's widescale corruption for the worsening power crisis, saying that investors turn away from power sector, as the government wants a big 'percentage' from everyone. She also noted that the power situation was much the same during the BNP's 1991-1996 regime.

Meanwhile, hundreds of AL and its front organisations' leaders and workers and admirers thronged the Sudha Sadan to greet Hasina on her birthday. Her husband Dr Wazed Miah presented her flowers in the morning.

Recalling the memories of her birthday with family members and friends, she said that her birthday was never celebrated with festivity. "I forget all my sadness and pain when I receive plenty of love and affection from the people of Bangladesh," Hasina added. She asked the countrymen to pray for a hunger and violence free Bangladesh.

Hasina, eldest daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was born at Tungipara in Gopalganj on this day in 1947. She was elected president of the party on February 1981 while she was in exile and returned to Dhaka on May 17 1981. She has been leading the AL since then and became Prime Minister in June 1996.

Meanwhile, Speaker Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar greeted Hasina on her birthday. "Many happy returns (of the day), I wish her good luck," he said urging the AL lawmaker Rezaul Karim Hira to convey the message to his leader.