BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said that the government has lost its sanity due to the US sanctions and restrictions. 

Referring to a piece in a vernacular daily, he said, "The sanction is being discussed in the secretariat. Those who helped the government in its illegal activities become scared... It is understood that the closing bell of this government has rung."

Mirza Fakhrul said this while addressing a rally organized by Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP at Dholaikhal in the capital on Monday afternoon demanding the release of Khaleda Zia. 

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Mentioning that Khaleda Zia is on the brink of death, the BNP leader said the doctors asked to take her abroad on an emergency basis. 

"Therefore, release the leader immediately, otherwise the government will have to take all responsibility," he said. 

Mirza Fakhrul said that not only the US sanction, the people of this country are now giving sanctions to this government. "The people of this country are saying in clear terms; now enough has happened, many tortures have occurred, leaders are imprisoned. We will not allow that to happen again. That's why we're on the road."

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"This government will not listen easily. We have to create waves on the waves and push them out from power through movements," he told the leaders. 

So we have to create a wave of movement. if it don't work in a peaceful movement, we have to go to a strong movement. Everyone should be ready to fight on the streets unitedly, Fakhrul added. 

Mirza Fakhrul said, "Now the people of Bangladesh have woken up. No matter how hard you try, you can't bring the people of this country home."

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BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, chairperson's special assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, publicity secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, self-help affairs secretary Shirin Sultana and Jubo Dal president Sultan Salauddin Tuku, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, from 11 am on Monday, a large number of leaders and activists started gathering at the rally with the slogan. 

The rally was supposed to be held at Dholaikhal intersection, but it extended to Rayer Shah Bazar, Tipu Sultan Road, and Laxmibazar. 

Dhaka Metropolitan South Convener Abdus Salam presided over the rally under the overall supervision of Engineer Ishraque Hossain.