As the government has driven the country to the verge of destruction, the AL will have to come to the rescue of the people and return their democratic rights by unseating the 'failed' government with the participation of the masses, they observed.

The rally was addressed by party leaders in front of the AL central office at Bangabandhu Avenue at about 4:00pm after holding a six-hour sit-in on the street.

AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed said a seed for ousting the government has been planted by observing a 'spontaneous' hartal across the country.

He said the government has done nothing to develop the country, rather it has brought the 'Sonar Bangla' (the golden Bengal) of Bangabandhu to the verge of destruction.

"We had managed Monga (a famine-like situation) in the northern regions and checked price hike of essentials but this government has miserably failed on both counts," he said.

Former mayor Mohammad Hanif, who presided over the rally, said the leader of the opposition called the hartal to rescue the people from the incessant price hike of essentials and the deteriorating law and order.

"We are agitating against the BNP-led coalition government and not against the police," he said adding that many peaceful AL workers were injured by police during the hartal hours.

AL presidium member Motia Chowdhury however did not address the rally as she was injured in a scuffle with police.

Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, health affairs secretary of AL, said the party men would strictly abide by the action plan to be declared on January 10 to get rid of the alliance government.

General Secretary of Awami Jubo League Mirza Azam MP alleged that despite giving his identity to police they swooped on him when he was in a procession near the city's Muktangon.