"I hope a democratic process will return as early as possible. Free and fair polls will be held and the country will run following the constitutional dictates. Inshallah, darkness will fade away ushering in light," observed the AL chief.

She was speaking at a gathering of Bangladesh Mohila Awami League at the city's Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury presented the keynote speech at the discussion titled "Contribution of the Bangladeshi Women in the global context".

Hasina said a nation cannot thrive without democracy. She said the people have been with them all along in the efforts to steer the country towards development.

The AL president pledged that if voted to power her party would bring down the prices of essentials within the ordinary people's reach and work for economic empowerment of women.

She also promised that they would opt for direct election to the women's reserved seats like, she added, they did in the union parishad level during the AL rule in 1996-2001.

Hasina called on the women leaders to continue the movement for political, economic and social liberties.

Saying that no nation could make progress without education, she urged the mothers to be educated to give their children proper education so they could make significant contributions towards development of the country.

Hasina, also a former prime minister, urged the caretaker government to bring to book those responsible for 'repression on women' during the previous BNP-Jamaat coalition government.

Besides, she instructed her party's female leaders and workers to submit applications to the government individually seeking inquiry and justice. " You [women] will have to compel them to meet your demands. You'll have to fight for the rights as they never come easily, without movements," said observed.

AL leader Ashrafunnesa Mosharraf chaired the discussion addressed among others by Motia Chowdhury, Dipu Moni, Nazma Rahman, and Sahara Khatun.