"The government has taken necessary steps to ensure security of people's lives and property, as it is responsible for that," she told a parliamentary party meeting of the ruling BNP held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

"The government has taken the measure on the basis of some specific information and documents that indicate a conspiracy is on against it," Khaleda, also leader of the parliamentary party, said.

"Nobody has been mindlessly harassed," meeting sources quoted her as saying.

She warned the 'trouble-makers', saying: "Nobody, including the activists of the ruling and opposition parties, will be spared for maintaining the constitutional process."

Earlier, some lawmakers raised the 'blanket arrest' issue and focused on its negative effects.

Mozammel Haq, also a former judge, termed the arrests as 'inhuman' and urged the government to shift its attention to the improvement of law and order.

Since April 19, police have arrested over 10,000 people, including activists of the main opposition Awami League (AL) as well as apolitical people, in an apparent attempt to foil the opposition's oust-government agitation.

Different human rights groups have termed the government action as violation of human rights and unconstitutional.

Khaleda assured her party lawmakers that a process was initiated to release the innocent people arrested in the police drive so far.

At the meeting BNP lawmakers demanded improvement of law and order, an end to price hike of essentials and downsizing the cabinet, but appeared divided on the issue of reserved seats for women in parliament.

Briefing reporters, Chief Whip Khandakar Delwar Hossain said 19 lawmakers spoke and 152 attended the meeting, which was indefinitely adjourned again.

Law Minister Moudud Ahmed explained different provisions of the proposed bill for amendment to the constitution. He also hinted at the passage of the bill in the current session of parliament.

BNP Standing Committee Member KM Obaidur Rahman opposed the provision for reserved seats for women in parliament, terming it unnecessary.

He, however, proposed introduction of quotas for political parties for proportionate nomination of women candidates in general elections.

BNP lawmaker Abdul Mannan also opposed the provision but called for introduction of 64 reserved seats for women with a provision for direct election.

Taking part in the discussion, Health Minister and BNP Standing Committee Member Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain defended the proposed provision for women seats.

Some lawmakers proposed for demarcation of reserved constituencies and some opposed proportionate distribution of the seats among parties with representation in parliament.

At the press briefing, the chief whip said direct election to reserved seats was not realistic. "If the direct election system is introduced, the women candidates will have to face difficulties."

On the AL's April 30 deadline for unseating the government, he said the meeting did not discuss the issue in detail.