Awami League-led 14-party alliance, Liberal Democratic Party-led Jatiya Oikyo Front and some Islamic political parties staged the sit-in simultaneously for the second time this week to press home their demands for cancellation of polls schedule, correction of voter list, 'meaningful' reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC) and resignation of the chief adviser.

The four-hour sit-in starting from 10:00am however passed off peacefully with leaders calling upon their activists, who rallied outside the security barricade around Bangabhaban, to enforce a non-stop rail-road-waterways blockade across the country from Sunday if their demands are not fulfilled by the time. Some of the leaders even vowed not to allow any rickshaws which are used virtually as the lone mode of transport in the city during blockade.

Hundreds of demonstrators started marching towards Bangabhaban through all the roads leading to the presidential house in the morning and occupied the streets till 2:00pm without resorting to any violence.

They took position at 10 points including Ittefaq intersection, Gulistan Cinema Hall intersection, Dainik Bangla crossing, Shapla Chattar, Paltan and near Jibon Bima Bhaban and held rallies.

At the rallies, the speakers said the activities of President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed have proved that he is a person of the BNP and Jamaat. He cannot be a president of 14 crore people and hence he must follow the way of Justice KM Hasan and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) MA Aziz.

They urged the people to be ready for a continuous blockade from next Sunday if the government does not fulfil their demands. This time the blockade would be much harder, the speakers warned.

They alleged that the president directed the EC office to announce the election schedule hurriedly without updating the voter list, which will not be acceptable.

The speakers said the president has to take the decision whether he would be greeted by the countrymen or be hated like Pakistani rulers.

Awami League presidium members Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Suranjit Sengupta, Begum Matia Chowdhury, Mohammed Nasim, and Rashed Khan Menon of Workers Party of Bangladesh, among others, addressed the rally in front of Gulistan Cinema Hall where Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya chaired.

Bangabandhu Avenue, Gulistan, Noor Hossain Square, Golap Shah Mazar and adjoining areas were flooded with demonstrators carrying banners and festoons.

Bustling Motijheel area wore a different look as the 14-party alliance and the like-minded political parties took to the streets forcing the law enforcers to make the roods off-limits to vehicles.

The commuters had to suffer due to a stop of vehicular movement. Many people including women and children were seen walking down the roads to reach their destinations.

Oikyabaddha Nagorik Andolon organised a cultural programme where the activists sang patriotic songs while Sramik League, the labour front of AL, held a rally at Jiban Bima Bhaban roundabout.

Zaker Party activists brought out a procession that paraded the roads stretching from Ittefaq crossing to Paltan and held a rally at Shapla Chattar.