Talking to The Daily Star by phone from London yesterday evening, she said it is not possible to begin the work on the much-talked about reforms of the political parties as long as the ban is in place.

Hasina is scheduled to board a Dhaka-bound flight of Etihad Airways from Heathrow at Bangladesh time 1:30am. After a stopover in Abu Dhabi, the airliner will arrive in the city at around 4:00pm.

Asked if anyone of the military-backed interim government has communicated any message to her lately, the former prime minister answered in the negative.

She said on return she would at first contact the party colleagues and enquire about the families that depend on financial support from the AL.

The AL chief said she has not yet decided whether to hold a press briefing on her arrival. "However, I'd certainly like to exchange views with the press....may be a few days later," she added.

She ruled out the possibility of taking up any political programme alongside BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami and said, "I won't indulge in any alliance with the thugs who are solely responsible for the current situation."

She observed that the BNP and Jamaat have been involved in rampant crimes and corruption. They are the ones responsible for numerous terrorist acts in the last five years. The alliance men went as far as to smuggle 10 truckloads of arms and ammunition in the country, she alleged.

Queried if she would take measures to rid the AL of leaders who stand accused of corruption, Hasina said, "In the last five years, the alliance government tried everything to ruin Awami League. If they had any proof against my leaders, do you think they would have spared them?"

Maintaining that she is never against reforms, she said, "Those talking about reform of the political parties should say exactly what they expect. I came up with specific proposals for reforms in the caretaker government and electoral systems, but the ones now speaking for reforms are being somewhat ambiguous."

She went on, "If reform implies changes in the leadership then that should happen through a ballot within a party. If it suggests shifts in a party's policies or constitution or any other area then those too should come systematically.

"Ours has a long tradition of forming committees on matters relating to party affairs before every council. The committees place their recommendations before the councillors who, in turn, give their opinions and it all lead to final decisions."

She argued, "I did not volunteer to be the party's president, and neither did my father make me the party chief when he was alive. The Awami League itself made me its president in my absence."

"The party cannot form any committee or hold a council as the indoor politics is banned. How come you bring about reforms with the ban in force?" she questioned.

About the jobs she would do immediately after return, she said, "I will meet my party leaders. We have a trust that runs a hospital. Families of those who died or had been injured in political persecution get financial help from the trust. All these activities have slowed down due to my absence and they must resume shortly."

Sheikh Hasina left for the US on a personal tour on March 15 and was supposed to return on April 23. She reached London on April 19 while the previous day the government issued a press note imposing a ban on her entry into the country.

In the press note, the interim administration said her return might disrupt the country's law and order and put the national security and economy in grave peril.

However, later on April 25 it withdrew the restrictions in the face of pressure and criticism both at home and abroad.

Referring to the latest arrests of her personal staff Saifuzzaman Shikhar and Gazi Golam Dastagir, an AL nominated-candidate for the cancelled January 22 polls, she said, "I've heard that they are being tortured into saying that I had given nominations for money."

Asked during last night's interview with the BBC Bangla Service why she did not retire from politics at the age of 57, as she announced during her premiership, Hasina said, "I would have done so if the 2001 election was not rigged."

Besides, the way the BNP-Jamaat alliance attacked AL leaders and activists and the way they raped and murdered after the election was like waging a war, she said.

"None of my party workers could stay home at that time and how could I possibly leave them when they were in distress?" she asked.

Meanwhile, AL acting president Zillur Rahman yesterday said due to emergency and the ban on political activities, the party will not arrange any public reception for her at the Zia International Airport tomorrow.

"Our working committee leaders want to receive her at the airport and we've already sought permission from the government," he added.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil said the government has wanted a list of those who would receive Hasina at the airport. The AL will give a list of around 100 people including members of the advisory counsel, presidium and working committee.

Some 30 leaders and workers of AL units based in the US and Europe will accompany her in the flight, said UK AL Organising Secretary MA Rahim.