"If we come to power again, we will take all steps to control prices so that people of all income groups could afford to buy essentials and farmers could buy fuel, fertiliser and seeds at lower prices. We will also ensure that all the unemployed get jobs," she said.

Hasina, also leader of the opposition in parliament, was speaking on the occasion of Jatiya Party vice chairman Abdul Wahab Sarker and two others' joining the AL at its Dhanmondi office in the capital.

The two others are former director general of narcotics directorate Bazlul Hasan Chandan and former superintendent of jail Jahangir Alam.

Hasina said the alliance government has killed 10 'innocent' farmers while they were demonstrating for uninterrupted supply of electricity at Kansat in Chapai-nwabganj. This government has so far 'killed' 26,000 people, half of them opposition leaders, workers and supporters, she alleged.

The opposition leader said the present rulers have increased prices of essentials, seeds, electricity, diesel and many other things only for their financial gains.

During the previous AL rule, prices of essentials were stable and within the reach of general people, she said. "We made the country food surplus but the alliance government has turned the country into a food deficit one," she said.

The AL chief alleged this government is using militants for political purposes.

On militant kingpins Sani and Awal's statement that Gopalganj district AL General Secretary Mohammad Abdullah gave them money for blasting bombs, Hasina said the government is forcibly taking such statements to mislead the nation.

She urged the people to unite for a movement to topple the alliance government to get rid of 'misrule, all sorts of torture and repression'.

Senior AL leaders present on the occasion included Tofail Ahmed, Advocate Abdul Hamid, Obaidul Quader, Syed Ashraful Islam, Mukul Bose, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, BM Mozammel Haque, Asim Kumar Ukil and Abdul Mannan Khan.