Sheikh Hasina must step down from power: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down from power. He said there is still time, step away safely, I mean goodbye, resign and hand over power under a non-partisan caretaker government, otherwise there is no escape.

Mirza Fakhrul said these things at the farmers' rally in front of the Nayapaltan BNP central office on Friday.

Farmers' party organized a rally to demand reduction in prices of agricultural inputs including fertilisers, seeds, diesel and pesticides and the release of Khaleda Zia and withdrawal of false cases against Tariq Rahman.

Claiming that the current unelected ruling Awami League government has broken the back of the farmers in a very planned way, the Secretary General of BNP said that the farmers do not get fair price for their products.

The price of diesel has increased by 50 times. The price of electricity has increased 10 times. So now where will the farmers go? Therefore, Sheikh Hasina, who is sitting on our chest, should be removed from power, he added.

Addressing the government, Mirza Fakhrul said, "We are clearly saying that, resign now, dissolve the parliament, give power to the caretaker government, then definitely organize a new election by forming a new election commission."

President of the Farmers Party Hasan Jafir Tuhin in the chair and moderated by General Secretary Shahidul Islam Babul, BNP Standing Committee Member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Vice Chairman Shasuzzaman Dudu, Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP Convenor Aman Ullah Aman, Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP Convenor Abdus Salam, BNP Central Leaders Khairul Kabir Khokon, Fazlul Haque Milan, Aminul Haque, Tabith Awal, Ikrak Hossain others gave speeches.