BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 'selfie' with the US President will not help her government to hang onto power. "You (ruling party) are so bankrupt and helpless that you have become excited after seeing a selfie with Biden (US President). You're now canvassing you have won. The bankrupt government wants to boost up the morale of the administration by marketing selfie," he said.

The BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir advised Awami League General Secretary to roam wearing Sheikh Hasina's selfie with US President Joe Biden around his neck."Do you know where is the lacking of this nation? We don't go to the basic place, rather, we are occupied with selfie issue," he said.

Speaking at a memorial meeting, the BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh will win through voting. "Take steps for conducting that voting properly. Otherwise, selfie will not be able to protect you (government). It's now very clear."

He said the country's people will not cast their votes for Awami League if a free and fair election is held. "The people will never forgive you and you won't be able to stay in power."

M Saifur Rahman Smriti Parishad arranged the memorial meeting at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU), marking the 14th death anniversary of late BNP leader and former finance minister M Saifur Rahman.

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's selfie with US President Joe Biden at the G-20 summit in New Delhi went viral on social media.

Fakhrul bemoaned that it is unfortunate for the nation that Awami League leaders are now talking about a light issue like selfie, instead of focusing on the basic problems.

"Obaidul Quader said what would Mirza Fakhrul say now? In reply, I suggest him to walk around with a selfie tied around your neck. It'll help you a lot to demonstrate that America's Biden is with you," he said.

The BNP leader recalled that at her press conference a few days back the Prime Minister said that America was trying to remove her government from power for not giving it the St. Martin's Island.

"What do we understand now by seeing this (selfie)? Have you given the St. Martin's Island to the United States?" he asked Sheikh Hasina.

Mirza Fakhrul also said, "A couple of days ago the prime minister uttered another issue. She said the US wants to build military bases in the Asia-Pacific Region, and it wants to show its dominance in the entire region, occupy the countries and attack those." "Now, the US has become very good overnight after taking selfie with President Joe Biden."

Drawing attention to the selfie issue, Fakhrul said the United States did not withdraw the sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), change the visa policy for Bangladesh and invite Bangladesh holding a democracy convention after Sheikh Hasina took selfies with its president. "So, speak after thinking. You don't think about the words you utter."

The BNP leader said President Joe Biden or America -- they are pro-democratic forces and they made it clear -- "We want to see a free, fair and impartial election in Bangladesh which will be acceptable to all." Not only the United States, but the entire democratic world is saying this, he said.

"The United States did not withdraw the sanctions and changed the visa policy for Bangladesh. They (America) said they want to see a good and inclusive election here which will be acceptable to all. It's not just America, the entire democratic world is saying so. We value it. That doesn't mean we only care about that. We value the opinion of our people very much," he said. Mirza Fakhrul said the country's people have also clearly sent out a message to the government to quit immediately by ending its misrule and repressions.

Fakhrul called upon the current regime to step down and dissolve parliament by handing over power to non-party administration, paving the way for holding a credible national election and establishing a pro-people government.