The demonstrators were marking the "Protection of fundamental and democratic rights day". AL's Dhaka city chapter also organised a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar where party's top leaders spoke.

Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil at the rally urged party workers to get ready for tougher programmes and said there is no alternative to overthrowing the government by this month to bring a democratic rule back to the country.

He alleged the BNP-Jamaat alliance government was trampling on the democratic rights of the people and their freedom of expression.

"The tyranny and repression of the present government have surpassed the records of all dictatorial rulers," Jalil said, adding no autocratic rulers could cling to power by unleashing violence and repression in the past and the incumbent will be no exception.

AL leader Tofail Ahmed criticised the US State Department's recent statement, which said the US government did not support any extra-constitutional government in any country.

"The US government supported General Parvez Musharraf in Pakistan when he took power ousting Nawaz Sharif's democratically-elected government," Tofail said.

AL leaders Abdus Samad Azad, Abdur Razzak, Suranjit Sengupta, Obaidul Kader, Mukul Bose, Abdul Manaan and Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya also addressed the rally chaired by Mohammad Hanif.

Left-leaning 11-party alliance took out a procession and later gathered at a rally at Muktangon yesterday afternoon to observe the rights-protection day.

"When they are not in power they are all for democracy, but as soon as they are in power, they turn autocratic," said Khalequzzaman, convenor of the alliance and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), referring to both the leading political parties.

The JSD also held a separate rally in the city to observe the day. Its President Inu slated the government for its "suppression of dissenting political voices". He asked all opposition political parties to unite to bring down the government and form a government of national unity.