"We are ready to discuss the issue for the sake of national interest despite repeated torture on us by the alliance government," said Tofael Ahmed, a senior leader of the combine, at a rally in front of the AL central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.

The rally was organised to protest police atrocities on the opposition workers during the sit-in programme in front of the Secretariat on Thursday.

Around 100 workers including city coordinator of the combine Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Haji Mohammad Selim were injured as police charged baton and lobbed teargas shells during the pro-gramme.

The 14-party will stage countrywide demonstrations and rallies today protesting the police atrocities.

Tofael said the alliance government has been hatching conspiracy to return to power through a manipulated election.

But the countrymen would not allow any election before realising the reforms, he added.

AL leader Obaidul Quader demanded of the government to create a favourable environment for meaningful discussion on reform issue.

14-party leaders Syed Zafor Sazzad, Anisur Rahman Mallick, Advocate Shahara Khatun, Omar Ali, Habibur Rahman Molla, Kazi Mostak Alen, Qamrul Ahsan, Shafiqur Rahman and Faizuddin Mia also spoke.