DHAKA, 31 March 2004 — In an unprecedented anti-government display, thousands of opposition Awami League activists formed a “no-confidence human wall” across Dhaka city yesterday demanding resignation of the four-party alliance government, headed by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for immediate midterm election.
“No more of this government,” a slogan inscribed on the headbands worn by the demonstrators along the 22-kilometer route from Pallabi in the uptown to Bahadur Shah Park in old Dhaka.
No major untoward incidents were reported during the demonstration.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, a small political group headed by Hasanul Huq Inu formed separate “no-confidence human wall” from Dainik Bangla crossing to Motijheel Shapla Chattar demanding resignation of the government. JSD (Inu) President Hasanul Huq Inu led the demonstration.
Amid shrill sound of whistles, men and women activists formed the hour-long human wall disrupting the traffic system in the capital.
After calling off the human wall exactly at 5-01 pm, the demonstrators came down to the middle of the streets shouting anti-government slogans like ‘Down with Khaleda-Nizami regime’, ‘Shut down Hawa Bhaban’ and ‘Return the wealth of the people.” Hawa Bhaban, the office of Khaleda as Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief, has been accused by the Awami League of running the government, not the Prime Minister’s Office.
Meanwhile, the government, alerted by intelligence agencies that the Awami League might incite politically motivated attacks next month, has deployed armed plainclothesmen for 50 eminent personalities.
Gunmen were put on an unprecedented assignment since Thursday last to protect more than 50 politicians, journalists, teachers, litterateurs, artistes and other noted personalities from possible attacks of politically motivated assailants, Home Ministry officials disclosed in Dhaka yesterday.
The government has also deployed a large number of security and intelligence personnel at important public places in the capital such as shopping malls, bus and rail stations and launch terminals.
