Dhaka, Sept 15: Bangladesh's main opposition party today renewed its call to step up the current anti-government agitations to oust Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's "corrupt, incapable and vindictive" government. Supporters of Awami League clapped, beat drums and cheered as their leader Sheikh Hasina led a protest rally amid tight security. Followers carried two coffins to symbolise the "death of democracy" and the rise of unemployment.

"The Prime Minister is conspiring to stay in power eternally, but it will not work as she has failed to provide security to the people," Hasina said at the rally held here.

She announced her party would support tomorrow's nationwide one-day strike by a workers union against the closure of factories and sought support for another anti-government protest on September 25.

Movement of vehicular traffic in centre of the capital remained stopped for a considerable period in the afternoon as thousands of pro-Awami League activists assembled in front of the party central office and nearby areas in the city.

Besides Dhaka, mass rallies were also held throughout the country to protest price hike of essential commodities and utilities, alleged corruption of Prime Minister Begum Zia and his relatives, politicization of administration, closure of mills and factories and retrenchment of workers besides others.
Bureau Report