Dhaka:  Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina is seeking to placate the business community in the run up to Bangladesh's general elections, promising to make up for losses caused by the current agitation.

At a meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Tuesday, she also promised to keep prices under check, a better role for private enterprises, better governance than her political rival Khaleda Zia and development of ports and highways, crucial to the economic development of one of the world's least developed countries.

The meeting, which was attended by captains of trade and industry as well as US envoy to Bangladesh Patricia Butenis, saw the former prime minister vowing to bring down power shortage through improved production, including generation of nuclear energy.

Industry and political sources have estimated the losses during the on-again-off-again agitation in the last six weeks to $70 million per day, but there is no official estimate.

Among the worst sufferers has been Bangladesh's principal foreign earner, the garment and knitwear industry whose export consignments were disrupted because of the blockade of ports and docks.

Though 40 political cadres reportedly died during the violence last month, Hasina put the figure at 77.

"The business community was also victimised by the unrest," she added. "If we can come to power, we will take steps to make up for those losses," Hasina was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

Media reports said Hasina, who was prime minister during 1996-2001, made 27 electoral pledges that included curbing militancy and separation of the judiciary from the executive branch of the government.

"We would like to constitute a government that will push Bangladesh forward on the path of good governance. If we are voted to power, we will bring the price level within the people's reach and will keep it in check, we will set up a price regulatory authority to monitor the market," she said.

She sought to unveil Vision 2020, the year Bangladesh, born in 1971 after a violent separation from Pakistan, would be 50.

"Taking that as a milestone, we want to proceed with 'vision 2020' to leave behind a poverty free country, a democratic state and welfare society for the future generation," she said.

Other political leaders, including Zia, are expected to address the AmCham.