They called upon the people to intensify the on-going agitation to hasten its fall.

Our Brahmanbaria Correspondent reports: Awami League Presidium member Zillur Rahman has alleged that most of the incidents of grenade and bomb blast in the country were done by criminals and terrorists sheltered by ruling party men.

They are habrouring the evil forces to cling to power after losing people's confidence.

He was addressing a big public meeting at the municipal park in the town on Saturday.

Presided over by Brahmanbaria AL President Lutfal-hi-Salchu, the meeting was addressed by, among others, its central leaders Mukul Bush, Ali Ahsraf, Capt (Retd) AB Tajul Islam, Mustafa Kamal Lutus and district leaders Amanul Haque, Kamruzzaman Ansary, former lawmaker Delara Haroon and former chairman of Brahmanbaria municipality Md Helal Uddin.

Zillur Rahman said the country has become a 'hell' for the people under the alliance government because of incidents of crime and violence. Law and order has deteriorated because none of the incidents of grenade and bomb blasts has been tried, he said.

The people remain panicked always, apprehending grenade attacks. Political parties and even cultural organisations hesitate to hold programmes because of fear.

He urged the government to ban all extremist religious outfits to contain rise of fundamentalists in the country.

They are out to capture power in the name of religion, which will turn Bangladesh into another Afghanistan, he said.

Mere banning JMB (Jamaatul Mujahidin) and JMJB (Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh) will not serve the purpose, he said.

Our Manikganj Correspondent repots:

Awami League Presidium member and former minister Tofail Ahmed said the alliance government will fall within a short time and a 'people's government' will be formed.

He said people's life and property are not safe under the rule of the alliance government.

Fanatics have raised their heads again under the patrnisation of the government. They are sheltering criminals and hopes to capture state power, he told a party workers meeting at the Town Hall auditorium on Saturday.

Tofael urged the party workers and all pro-liberation forces to unite and launch intensify the on-going agitation to topple the government.

He urged the people to protest the government's misrule and corruption.

With Manikganj district AL President Golam Mohiuddin in the chair, the meeting was addressed by, among others, AL central leaders Alamgir Kumkum, Dewan Shafiul Arefin Tutul, Manikganj district AL leaders Gazi Kamrul Huda Selim, Abdus Salam, Abdul Mazial, Arshad Ali Chowdhury, Mazed Khan, Hasib Uddin Ahammed Selim, Juba League leader Nazrul Islam, Chhatra League leader Mahabubul Alam Khaled and Manikganj Bar Association President Meher Uddin.

"Popular Awami League leaders, journalists and intellectuals are being killed as part of a blue print to eliminate them only to stay in power", Tofail alleged.

The government has so far filed false cases against one lakh Awami League leaders and workers in the country, he claimed.

Other speakers called upon the people to intensity the ongoing agitation to topple the 'corrupt and failed government" as it could not provide security to people's life and property.

They also criticised the government for price hike of essentials, ferliliser and fuel during the current IRRI-Boro Season.