Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday alleged that a section of civil society members, politicians and "internationally acclaimed" jurists are spreading confusion over the 15th amendment to the constitution that scrapped the non-party caretaker government system.

She said the bill to amend the constitution was placed in parliament after taking the opinion of people from different professions for about a year.

Hasina, who is the president of the ruling Awami League, claimed nothing had been done hurriedly and no other bill in the world had been passed after taking so much time.

"They had given their opinion on the constitution amendment, but now they are saying the bill was passed hurriedly. Those who are doing this are nothing but wilful sinners, "she said.

Addressing a meeting at her official residence Gono Bhaban with her party grassroots leaders of six districts, she claimed that the 15th amendment had been brought about to safeguard parliamentary democracy and prevent extra-constitutional elements from seizing power.

Claiming that democracy had become sustainable in Bangladesh, the AL chief said she did not want any antiliberation or unelected forces to rule the country.

AL presidents and general secretaries of Jessore, Kishoreganj, Tangail, Kurigram, Laxmipur and Naogaon districts and all their upazilas and municipalities attended the meeting to pick the party's MP candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

From every constituency, the grassroots will give three prospective names and answer a set of 10 questions carrying 100 marks on popularity, connection with the party grassroots and people, financial capability and family and educational

backgrounds of the aspirants.

At the meet, Hasina also reiterated that the election would be held following the parliamentary system of democracy and the country would be run accordingly.

She said her government had successfully tackled terrorism in the country and carried out massive development while foreign currency reserves had swelled to over 16 billion. “No country in the world could make such progress amid the global economic recession," she claimed.

Alleging that the "BNP-Jamaat-Hefajat" combine had been misleading the people over religious issues, she said the AL-backed candidates lost the five city polls due to the propaganda though all of them had a clean record.

If these forces came to power, they would bring back militancy and push the country into an era of darkness, Hasina added.

Referring to the BNP chairperson's statement that her party would install a "new

style of government if voted to power, the AL chief said Khaleda would resort to a new style of corruption, looting and siphoning off of money abroad.

If she gets another term, Hasina said, her government would raise the literacy rate up to 100 percent, increase power production and complete the trial of war criminals.

On the other hand, grassroots leaders pointed out internal feuds which, they said, have to be resolved ahead of the next polls.

They also criticised many lawmakers for not maintaining relationship with the party.

The lawmakers did not even supervise whether the government allocations were being used properly, they alleged.

Talking to The Daily Star, some of the grassroots leaders said the AL chief directed them to resolve the feuds. Otherwise, she would hold council to form new committees.

She also advised them to make the women wings of AL active in all areas.