As the clock struck 11:00am, all modes of vehicles stopped on the roads and work in all government, non-government and autonomous organisations suspended.

Braving the heavy rains since morning, thousands of people from all walks of life, including students and teachers from all academic institutions, stood silent on roads till 12 noon in support of the mass protest programme.

Transactions at financial institutions remained suspended; workers and officials of mills and industries refrained from work; and shops pulled down their shutters and sales in city's kitchen markets stopped.

Leaders of the GKDACC later held a huge rally at the Picture Palace cinema hall square. Presided over by veteran Awami League (AL) leader Advocate Kazi Abdus Salam, the rally was marked by the participation of people and leaders irrespective of political ideology and profession.

Addressing the rally, the GKDACC leaders threatened with non-cooperation movement and non-payment of any sort of tax from greater Khulna if necessary fund is not allocated immediately through special arrangement from the national exchequer for the city's development projects.

The rally was addressed among others by city AL President Sheikh Haroon-or-Rashid, city BNP Secretary Nazrul Islam Manju, city Convenor of Gono Forum Haider Gazi Salahuddin, city President of Communist Party of Bangladesh Advocate Feroze Ahmed, district BNP Secretary Advocate Shafiqul Alam, city President of Jamaat-e-Islami Abdul Matin Master, city President of Jatiya Party (Ershad) Abul Hossain, President of Khulna Chamber of Commerce & Industry Munir Ahmed, former education minister and veteran Muslim League leader SM Amjad Hossain, and President of Khulna unit of Bangladesh Medical Association Dr Akhtaruzzaman.

The one-hour work stoppage was also observed in Bagerhat and Mongla.