At the rallies, fresh programmes were announced in favour of Saifur while shopkeepers in Moulvibazar town observed strike on the day.

Road transport owners and workers also put up barricades on some roads for few hours.

According to programmes announced by district BNP at the rallies, Jubo Dal will bring out procession and hold a protest rally today in the district town. Tomorrow, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) student front of BNP, will bring out a motorcycle rally.

Moulvibazar district BNP will hold a 'big' public meeting in the town on Tuesday, where a fresh programme will be announced.

Road communication from Moulvibazar become disrupted as the district Minibus Owners Association and Sarak Paribahan Sramik Union put up barricade on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway at Sherpur, Moulvibazar and Srimongal from 2pm. The barricades were not withdrawn when the report was filed in the evening. This kept thousands of bus passengers stranded at different points.

Moulvibazar Chemist and Druggist Association also kept all medicine shops in the town closed for two hours. Even groceries, hotels and restaurants, tailoring shop and make-shift roadside cigarettes and betel leaf shops were also closed in the town yesterday.

Moulvibazar Sadar upazila unit of BNP held its public meeting at the bus stand. Presided over by Faruk Ahmed, it was addressed by, among others, district BNP secretary Fayzul Karim Moyun, Md. Eusuf Ali, Dr M Ahad, Dr

Dilshad Parveen, Mizanur Rahmna Mizan and Rafiqul Islam Rashik.

Later a procession was brought out in the town, chanting slogans against Ilias Ali.

Speakers at the meeting, announced that mass hunger strike, hartal and barricade on highways and railways will be observed if Saifur resigns. They demanded expulsion of Ilias Ali from the party. They urged the prime minister and BNP chief Khaleda Zia to evaluate the contribution of Saifur to the party.

Such rallies were also held at Baralekha, Juri, Kulaura, Rajnagar, Srimongal and Kamolganj upazila headquarters urging the BNP chief to take steps against Ilias Ali and not to accept Saifur's resignation.