The businessmen under the banner of Sadarghat Babosayee Samity announced the programme at a press conference at Chittagong Press Club.

The agitation programmes included hoisting black flags on all local business establishments on June 2 and 4, formation of a one-hour human chain from 10:00am on June 5 and submission of memorandum to police commissioner in a procession on June 9.

Samity General Secretary Md Shafiul Azam read out the written statement at the press conference while President Ahmad Mia replied to the queries.

The business leaders said incidents of mugging and robberies marked a rise in the traditional commercial centre of Sadarghat. The businessmen are concerned as police failed to arrest the criminals, they said.

They said armed miscreants looted goods and Tk 1lakh in cash from Messers Tradecom, dealer of soft drink company Coca-cola, on May 26, robbery took place in the same style at the Pepsi cola local dealer office few days ago. Besides, incidents of mugging are occurring frequently, they added.

They demanded round-the-clock police patrol at different points of Sadarghat Road. They also demanded that patrol be intensified on the roads stretching from GPO crossing to Kalibari crossing and from Kalibari crossing to Darogahat.

They demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment to the criminals involved in the robberies at the dealer offices.