The programmes were announced earlier jointly by the 11-Party Alliance and the Rangpur Sugar Mills Employees Union demanding withdrawal of lay-off of the mill.

Speakers at the meeting called upon the people irrespective of political opinions and professions to join the agitation to compel the government to withdraw its decision.

The meeting, held at Gaibandha Shop Workers Union office was presided over by Rabiul Hossain, president of the district Workers and Employees Federation.

It was addressed by, among others, Abdul Matin, president of Rangpur Sugar Mills Workers Union; Aminul Islam Golap, General Secretary of Gaibandha Workers Party; BSD leader Manjurul Alam Mithu; Ganotantri Party leader Kader Newas; Jatiya Krishak Samity leaders Jahangir Alam and Bidhan Das; Samajtantrik Sramik Front leader Probir Chakkravarti; Motor-Truck Sramik Union leader Lal Mia Sarker; Rickshaw Sramik Union leader Rafiqul Islam; Farid Ahmed; Abdul Asad Babu and Tofazzal Hossain.

They bitterly criticised the government for closing down mills and factories one after another, making thousands of workers and employees jobless. Several thousand farmers will also be affected by closure of the sugar mill, they said.