Bangladesh's main opposition Awami League (AL) MPs, led by Sheikh Hasina, walked out of the parliament Tuesday to protest price-hike of diesel and crises of electricity and fertilizer, local news agency UNB reported.

However, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan outright rejected the AL's contention of increasing diesel price, saying that the government has not issued any circular to this effect.

"There is no shortage of diesel, no circular has been issued on this, and the price of diesel will not be increased," he assured the House.

Bhuiyan said the government is trying to provide electricity, diesel and fertilizer to farmers during this time of paddy cultivation.

However, the opposition members left the floor of House at about 6:50 pm saying that the LGRD Minister's statement was not true.

Commenting on the walkout, Deputy Speaker Akhtar Hamid Siddiqui said, "Perhaps, it is not right to walk out after giving all the opportunity to discuss."

AL returned to the parliament Sunday ending 16-month boycott to the parliament with a series of reform proposals.

Source: Xinhua