People want food, employment and security, and the government must ensure these basic needs, National Citizen Party (NCP) Senior Joint Convener Hasnat Abdullah said on Saturday.

"People in this country want food, jobs and security. I tell the BNP government: let people live and provide them with employment. Otherwise, people will take to the streets once again," he said.

Hasnat Abdullah, also the lawmaker from Comilla-4, was speaking at a street rally at Murli Mor in Jashore town on Saturday evening as part of a long march organised by the 11-party alliance.

Hasnat expressed concern over the country's security situation, alleging that police picked people up from their homes when they raised concerns about their safety.

Referring to the case of Sathi Akter in Mymensingh, he said police took her into custody after she expressed regret during a Facebook Live broadcast for voting for the BNP.

"We are living in a time when, if we dare to protest, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) threatens us with 'crossfire'," he added.

The NCP leader also criticised the government over the growing unemployment problem, saying many university graduates were struggling to find jobs despite going from one place to another in search of work.

He alleged that the government made misleading claims about employment opportunities in Japan and Malaysia.

He said the government had claimed that Japan would provide jobs for 100,000 Bangladeshis following a visit there, but the Japanese government later clarified that no such agreement had been reached.

He also referred to a claim that 200,000 jobs would be created in Malaysia, saying the Malaysian side denied any such agreement.

Regarding the opposition's role, Hasnat said it must act as 'an alternative government and prepare to take state responsibility'.

"We cannot have an opposition that alleges election rigging but then accepts the results. If an election is rigged, we must have the courage to say so openly. We cannot cry foul over rigging one moment and then celebrate by eating sweets the next," he said.

He accused the government of allowing extortion and irregularities in government tenders, exercising partisan control over state institutions and failing to address public concerns.

He called on the opposition to take a firm stand against government irregularities.