Prof Chowdhury and his family members including lawmaker son Mahi B Chowdhury narrowly escaped from the mysterious blaze at his Baridhara house on April 30 that gutted cash and valuables in three rooms.

Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh (BDB), Jatiya Oikya Mancha and Bangladesh Tarikat Federation held a rally participated by hundreds of people at Muktangon.

Speakers at the rally blamed the ruling BNP cadres who has been carrying out repeated attacks on BDB since its launching for setting fire to the house of its president.

They demanded stern punishment to those who are responsible for the heinous crime.

Party workers and supporters also chanted slogans against the BNP-led four-party alliance government.

The rally was addressed by BDB Secretary General Major (Retd) Abdul Mannan, Oikya Mancha member-secretary Abdur Rouf and Bangladesh Tarikat Federation Secretary General Alhaj Zakir Hossain.

Bikalpa Chhatra Dhara formed a human chain in front of the High Court protesting the blaze.

Later they brought out a procession that marched different city streets.

Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal Central Committee Convener Khalequzzaman expressed deep concern over the fire at Badruddoza's house.

Meanwhile, BDB will organise a press conference at its central office today.

It is expected that BDB along with Jatiya Oikya Mancha and Bangladesh Tarikat Federation will announce at the press conference a detailed programme of their proposed long march towards Rajshahi protesting the price hike of electricity, water, fertiliser, diesel and other essentials.