"Although it is the easiest thing to call a hartal and enforce it, people irrespective of their political affiliation, profession and social position do not like this programme because it directly hurts their lives and livelihood," he said.

Addressing a big rally at Muktangon in the capital organised by the BNP's youth front Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal to protest bomb attacks, other acts of violence and the bid to create anarchy in the country, Bhuiyan said, "I believe any party calling hartal will be gradually isolated from people instead of gaining their support."

Bhuiyan, also minister for LGRD and Cooperatives, said people no longer believe in politics of hartal and they do not want any more hartal. Hartal callers should take this reality into cognisance before going for such a programme, he thought.

Without naming the main opposition Awami League (AL), Bhuiyan said this party has become isolated from people because of calling hartals frequently without any issue.

On the AL's demand for resignation of the government, the minister said this party is making the demand from the very day the BNP came to power. " They (AL) make the demand solely in their own interest that is going to power. But they have never made any demand in the interest of people."

He made it clear the alliance government will not step down even a day before expiry of its tenure.

Turning to the August 21 grenade attack on an AL rally, the BNP secretary general said the government has shown its sincerity in probing the incident by forming a judicial inquiry commission and engaging both local and foreign investigators to unearth how it happened. But the AL is yet to cooperate with the inquiry commission and teams.

On the AL's public rally in the capital today, the BNP leader warned his party with the support of people will resist any bid to create disorder and anarchy.

About the ruling alliance's countrywide programme of rallies and processions announced earlier, Bhuiyan said many think it aims to counter AL programmes. "I want to say categorically we have taken up the programme on the occasion of our third year in power and to protest planned bids to create anarchy."

He went on, "We don't need any programmes to counter that of Awami League because the party (AL) is completely isolated from people."

Chaired by Juba Dal President Barkatullah Bhulu, the rally was also addressed by City BNP chief and Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, BNP Joint Secretary General Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, State Minister Amanullah Aman, Juba Dal Secretary Moazzem Hossain Alal MP and city BNP General Secretary Abdus Salam.

Goyeshwar urged the government to take precautionary measures so that the AL or 'conspirators' do not get any scope to 'stage' an incident like the one on August 21 at today's rally.