Declaring a non-stop countrywide blockade with effect from today, the AL chief also demanded appointment of a new chief adviser if the president fails to discharge his duties as the interim government's head.

"We will withdraw the blockades only when we see the caretaker government taking effective measures to meet our demands and create an atmosphere conducive to holding a free and fair election," Hasina told a crowded press briefing at her Dhanmondi office last night.

Earlier, the AL chief held a meeting with the senior leaders of the AL-led 14-party alliance and discussed the current political situation.

Urging all to observe the blockade programme peacefully, Hasina said the demonstrators would retaliate, if attacked. She also called on the people to take part in the programme to "save the country and its democracy".

"We gave the president and chief adviser time twice to prove his neutrality and create an atmosphere congenial to the conduct of a free and fair election but he has failed," Hasina said, adding that instead of proving his neutrality, the president has rather become more "partisan".

The AL chief also alleged that President Iajuddin Ahmed has in fact breached the oath he had taken as the chief adviser by saying that the present government is of presidential form.

Iajuddin has messed up the powers of the president and the caretaker chief, thus violating the constitution and making the people confused, she said, adding, "He has changed his position from the key conception and objectives of a non-party caretaker government."

Although the chief adviser is supposed to work neutrally in coordination with all other advisers, Iajuddin is creating a gap with them, Hasina alleged.

Substantiating her accusation, she said the caretaker chief did not allow the advisers while briefing the secretaries.

"How could the president say it is a 'presidential government' and the officers of the republic are his own staff while they are getting salaries from the public exchequer?" she said, adding that the people have the right to comment on their role and attitude.

Hasina said they placed an 11-point task to the chief adviser and expected him to consider the dignity and esteem of his new responsibility by creating an election-friendly situation.

"We extended the time for observation up to November 11 following requests from all," she said, adding, "But the president kept the charges of 14 ministries related to elections and administration to himself rather than taking steps to make the administration non-partisan."

It is a mystery why the advisers were not given the ministries related to the elections, Hasina said. Moreover, contractual services also have not been cancelled and those who were made officers-on-special-duty (OSDs) on political consideration have not been promoted, she added.

The AL chief called upon the members of the law enforcement agencies to stay alert during the blockade as, she feared, the BNP-Jamaat coalition might commit subversive acts.

She also asked the president not to use the armed forces against the people to save a "family of corrupts and plunderers".

The AL chief expressed her fears that the country and its democracy are heading towards a deep crisis. This situation has been created as the BNP-Jamaat alliance government did not meet the electoral reform demands, she said.

As per the constitution, people will choose their government through an election under a non-partisan neutral caretaker government, Hasina said, adding, "But since the BNP-Jamaat alliance anticipates defeat in the next election, they want to snatch people's democratic rights to franchise."

She accused the BNP-Jamaat coalition for placing a "subservient and controversial" person in the post of chief election commissioner (CEC) to rig the next election, thus tarnishing the dignity of the constitutional body.

She regretted that although one crore 40 lakh fake voters were listed in the voter list, a large number of people, especially the youths, have not yet been included in the voter rolls.

The AL chief said while the 14-party alliance was trying to realise the rights of people, the BNP chairperson threatened with exercising power, and eventually came the BNP-Jamaat alliance's armed attack that left 18 leaders and activists of the AL and its allies dead and over two thousand others injured across the country.

Hasina heavily came down on the BNP-led four-party alliance for the recent unchecked price hike, severe crises of power, water and gas, unbridled corruption, terrorism, militancy, grenade attacks, and killing of AL leaders and activists.

Senior 14-party leaders were present at the briefing.

Earlier in the morning, at a meeting with the leaders of AL's youth front Jubo League on the occasion of its 34th founding anniversary, Hasina said the blockade programme will have to be observed peacefully for the sake of the country's democracy, constitution and people's right to voting.

Pointing to the chief adviser to the caretaker government, Hasina said, "Whose directions is he implementing? It seems that he does not have any conscience. People are in doubt about whether he is implementing Hawa Bhaban's prescription after being super powerful with two posts."

Describing the CEC as "a liar", she said a free and fair election is never possible under his jurisdiction. The country and the nation must be freed from all conspiracies of the BNP-Jamaat coalition, she said, urging all to be united and launch a greater movement to resist all conspiracies to rig election.

Jubo League Chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanak and General Secretary Mirza Azam, among others, were present at the meeting.