Opposition's Anti Government Rally

"Resist this failed and repressive government of BNP and Jamaat," Hasina said addressing a grand rally at Paltan Maidan in the capital. "Ousting this government, people's power will be given back to people."

Hasina also announced fresh action programmes – a dawn-to-dusk countrywide hartal on March 27, hunger procession on March 23, human walls in cities and districts on March 13 and in upazilas on March 20.

She said that peoples' right to vote would have to be ensured by ousting the "repressive and inept" government. "Peoples' power has to be given back to people," said the Awami League chief.

The opposition leader reiterated the demand for a free and fair election and urged the countrymen to be aware about their voting rights. She alleged the government is making all arrangements to rig the next general elections. "We will resist any attempt to rig the election.”

The AL chief said the civil and police administration is not being allowed to work impartially.

But the officials and employees of the Republic have to abide by the Constitution, she told the rally. "You are not paid from the pocket of Khaleda Zia, you are paid by the hard-earned money of people. You will have to work neutrally."

The Opposition Leader also asked the police administration not to repress people to protect the "repressive and corrupt" government. "Be with the people. This government will not last long."

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) took tight security measures in and around the venues of rallies of the AL and other opposition parties yesterday in the wake of several bomb attacks on political and cultural programmes.

Police checked most of the people who came to join the rally of the main opposition party. Besides, huge contingents of police were deployed in Shahbag, Press Club, Paltan, Motijheel, Bangabandhu Avenue and Dhaka University areas.

The mainstream opposition parties including left 11-party alliance and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu) Wednesday announced the next course of their anti- government agitation from separate rallies in the capital.

The agitation programmes will start on March 13 and continue up to April 6 also to press home various other demands.

Urging people to join the oust-government movement, the opposition leaders said they will enforce tougher programmes after the public examinations end next month. (End/si)