The meting also demanded withdrawal of false cases filed against the party leaders and activists.

The demands came at a rally held at the local 'Shaheed Miner' where the speakers condemned police action on a peaceful procession during hartal hours here on April 20. The hartal was called in demand of reopening of the mills.

Police also filed false cases against Aminul Islam Golap, general secretary of local unit of the Workers' Party, Ashsanul Habib Sayed, convenor of local unit of the BSD, Mihir Ghosh, general secretary of local unit of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Mosaddek Ahmed Bulbul, co-ordinator of the local unit of the 11-Party Alliance, Nawsaduzzaman, central member of the Samajtantrik Chhattra Front, Jahid Hossain Biplob, executive president of the local unit of the motor-truck workers' union.

The meeting was presided over by Mosaddek Ahmed Bulbul, convenor of the local unit of the 11-Party Alliance.

The speakers called upon local people to intensify their movement for reopening of the mills.

Later, they brought out a procession which paraded the main streets of the town and handed over a memorandum to the Deputy Commi-ssioner (DC) of Gaibandha.