"Time is running out fast...a consensus must be reached quickly and it must be reached with us," Khaleda, also chairperson of ruling BNP, said in her speech concluding the 23rd session of parliament.

The tenure of the present parliament expires on October 27.

"It will be better for the nation as well as for you [main opposition Awami League (AL)] to come to a agreement soon," the PM said, urging the AL to sit in a dialogue without any pre-condition.

"We do not put any condition to holding the talks. But, where is the scope for a consensus if you continue putting conditions, threatening and talking in a language of confrontation?" Khaleda said. She stressed the need for creating a friendly atmosphere among the political parties before the election to improve the democratic environment.

"They [AL] did not hear us when they were in power. But we want to listen to them as we want the next election to be held in a peaceful atmosphere," she said. "We want a contested election with participation of all so that people can choose their representatives in accordance with their choice."

The PM blasted the AL for choosing the US ambassador's residence as the venue for the secretary-level talks. "Don't we live in an independent country? Don't we have prestige? Can't we hold discussion?" Khaleda said, adding that the people can never believe the AL following this "drama".

Khaleda also blasted the AL for refusing to sit in dialogue with Jamaat-e-Islami in the PM's proposed committee.

In her 55-minute speech amid repeated desk-thumbing by treasury bench lawmakers, the PM described her government's efforts towards development in various sectors ranging from economics to education.

She, whoever, avoided the much-talked-about issues of skyrocketing prices of essentials, unbridled corruption and the ongoing acute shortage of power.

Defending the existing system of the caretaker government introduced in 1996 through amending the constitution, Khaleda strongly criticised the AL for its proposal to bring reforms in the caretaker government system and the Election Commission.

"The two general elections held under the caretaker government system have been lauded at home and abroad, but the main opposition is now questioning the caretaker government system and demanding to change it," Khaleda said.

"The Awami League will fix who will be the chief of caretaker government and the chief election commissioner. [They say] the person supposed to be the chief of caretaker government is not reliable, he is partisan, but the person to be fixed by Awami League will be neutral--is it logical?" Khaleda said.

Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina, who in her concluding speech earlier blasted the government for engaging in conspiracy to rig the polls, was however absent from the House during the PM's speech.

The PM was also not present in the House during Hasina's speech.

In reply to the main opposition's allegation that the government has planned to rig the election, the PM said days of rigging elections are gone as people of the country are very much aware about their rights of franchise.

"Different propaganda can be launched to create controversy and confuse people, but it is not possible to win the election through any 'blueprint'," she said, adding that there is no way to change election results as voters are much aware, contenders are powerful and observers and media remain active.

On the opposition combine's declaration to resist the polls without electoral reforms and make the caretaker government unable to function, the PM said, "The only duty of the caretaker government is to create the atmosphere for holding election. To make the caretaker government unable to function means to create obstacle to holding the election, to resist the polls means to destroy the democracy and make the constitution ineffective and undermine the people's right.

"We are determined to save the democracy, constitution and people's voting rights. Question does not arise for compromising in this regard," Khaleda said, adding, "The election must be held in time and it is a norm of democracy."

At the beginning of her speech, the leader of the House said she feels proud as the current parliament is going to fulfil its tenure of five years. "The country advanced another step on the way to parliamentary democracy through it," the PM said.