"I wanted to go to the US to assist my pregnant daughter. But the government did not allow me to go...This is undemocratic and absolutely inhuman. I think good sense will prevail soon upon the government," Hasina said in her immediate reaction.

However, expressing her firm desirer to go to the US any day, she said, "I must go to the US to assist my daughter."

Sources said when contacted on behalf of the party the government informed the AL of its decision that Hasina would not be allowed to leave the country. The immigration authorities also told the AL leaders that they have government orders not to let Hasina go abroad.

Coming out from Hasina's Sudha Sadan residence, AL Presidium member Matia Chowdhury told journalists at 10:00pm that the party is aggrieved and shocked at the government decision and termed this a "mistake".

Matia hoped that the government will realise its mistake and allow Hasina to see her daughter in the USA.

Meanwhile, in addition to deploying heavy police contingents around Sudha Sadan, the government did not also allow the police protection for Hasina to go to Sudha Sadan yesterday. A total of 12 platoons of police were deployed around Sudha Sadan. More police were also deployed in Dhanmondi residential areas.

Talking to The Daily Star, police officials posted at Sudha Sadan said they had instructions to prevent Hasina from going to the airport.

A Dhaka court on Thursday asked the police to take necessary steps over Hasina's leaving country in consultation with the immigration authorities.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hasina was also prevented from visiting Chittagong, "for security reasons", where she meant to meet families affected by last week's rain and landslides, killing around 120 persons.

In April, the caretaker government imposed a ban on Hasina's return from an earlier visit to the US and the AL chief was stranded in London for about two weeks before local and international pressure forced the government to lift the restriction. Then the British Airways was also asked not to allow her to board the aircraft despite a valid confirmed ticket.

Earlier in the morning, Sheikh Hasina categorically accused the military backed caretaker government of trying to push her out of politics by having false cases filed against her.

"The government does not want me to compete in the elections. That's why it is having cases filed against me," the former premier told newsmen at her Sudha Sadan residence in the capital.

Denying all allegations brought against her, Hasina vowed to prove her innocence. She said, "We've the right to serve the people and the people have the right to get that service, but conspiracies are being hatched to keep me out of the elections. This is nothing but a crooked design."

"Police are investigating the cases filed against me. If I am found guilty, punish me but why should I not be allowed to go abroad?" she questioned.

Hasina alleged that a virtual section 144 has been imposed on her residence by disallowing entry of more than four people at a time.

The AL chief said she heard that some 30 extortion cases will be filed against her by forcibly making different businessmen file those. "Let them file 100 cases, let there be investigations. If I am proven guilty let them punish me. I know I didn't do anything wrong, but still they may punish me by filing false cases anyway," she said.

Hasina repeatedly tried to clarify that incidents of taking donations are being treated as incidents of extortion. "If someone voluntarily donates money, that is not extortion. Donations are an imperative to run a political party as the government does not provide funds for political parties in Bangladesh," said the daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"I can swear I didn't seek anything personal throughout my political life."

Citing the examples of fundraising by Bandhu Sabha, a reader's forum organised by the daily Prothom Alo, and of the chief adviser's appeal for contributing to the relief fund for the landslide victims in Chittagong, Hasina asked whether those should also be called extortion.

She alleged that pressure is being put on lawyers not to provide legal aid to accused people. Terming the move as a double standard, she said on the one hand the government wants to separate the judiciary and on the other it is trying to put pressure on lawyers.

Regarding the current talk about a 21-point reform proposal prepared by her party leaders which includes a proposed provision for barring the party president from becoming the prime minister of the country, Hasina said if such a reform is to be brought to her party then not only the party president, but its presidium members, general secretary, joint secretaries, and other office bearers should also be barred from becoming ministers of a government. But to bring those reforms, politics must be allowed first, said the AL president.

"We know that outdoor political activities and indoor politics are banned, but some people are carrying out political activities nonetheless. If they can do that then let me also convene meetings of my party's central committee and discuss the matters. Let politics be open," she said.

About the formation of a new party, Hasina said those who have been in the 'dustbin of politics' are being picked up to launch a new party, and a move is on to split the established parties.

About the reported restriction on her scheduled departure for the USA last night, she threw a question asking why she should not be allowed to be with her daughter who is expecting to give birth to a baby in three weeks.

At this point, Hasina broke down in tears urging the mothers of the world to ask why she should not be allowed to be with her expecting daughter.