In Dhaka, opposition leaders and workers held the demonstration in front of the DC's office at Old Dhaka, braving a barbed wire barricade put by police.

Hundreds of demonstrators chanted anti-government slogans during the two-hour demonstration yesterday morning, demanding the immediate resignation of the Khaleda Zia administration. Many of the demonstrators brandished placards inscribed with anti-government slogans.

Prior to the siege programme, the opposition coalition held a brief rally at Bahadur Shah Park.

Addressing the rally, 14-party leaders urged people to wage an all-out movement against the BNP-Jamaat alliance government and to install a secular democratic government after implementing the opposition's 23-point minimum national programme.

They said the opposition movement will force the proposed reforms in the caretaker government and in the election commission to ensure a free and fair election next year.

Abdur Razzak, AL presidium member, said no election would be allowed in this land without reforms in the caretaker government and the election commission.

"We achieved our independence by sacrificing blood. If necessary, we'll sacrifice blood again to protect the independence," he said. The senior opposition leader accused the government of providing protection to the militants.

He urged the countrymen to build resistance against the 'bomber government'.

Motia Chowdhury, AL presidium member, said, "The killings, the bombings and the increasing prices of essentials are the main success of the alliance government. This government has announced their fight against the common people."

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) leader Syed Jafar Sazzad said, "Our enemies are taking direct action so we also have to take direct action. It is not possible to topple the government through mere speeches."

Benjir Ahmed, district AL president Dhaka, presided over the rally. AL leaders Obaidul Quader, Abdul Mannan, Mukul Bose, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Sultan Mohammad Mansur, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Gono Forum leaders Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Kazi Hanif and Jamal Uddin Ahmed, JSD leader Shirin Akhter, Anisur Rahman Mallik of Workers Party and MA Gani of National Awami Party (NAP) also spoke.

Leaders and activists of the 14-party opposition coalition laid siege to the DC office in Narayanganj yesterday morning, our Narayanganj correspondent reports.

A procession of the 14-party alliance headed towards the deputy commissioner's (DC) office but it was stopped near the DC office's main entrance by the police. The activists, locked in a brawl with law enforcers, demanded entry to the DC office premises.

Failing to enter the office compound, the opposition men staged a sit in near the entrance.

Central AL's Relief and Social Welfare Secretary, Nazma Rahman, District AL Convenor SM Akram, City AL President Anwar Hossain, Gono Forum leader Delwar Hossain Chunnu, JSD leader Mohor Ali, and Workers' Party leader Shafi Uddin Ahmed led the demonstration.