The mainstream opposition parties plan to blockade highways, rail tracks and waterways from 9:00am to 3:00pm in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. They have already warned the law enforcers that there will be stiff resistance if the latter try to foil the programme.

Leader of the Opposition and AL president Sheikh Hasina announced the programme after a 36-hour countrywide shutdown on June 13-14. Earlier, the opposition camp had observed programmes to besiege the capital and EC Secretariat, demanding reforms in the caretaker government and electoral systems as well as ouster of CEC and two controversially appointed election commissioners.

"We will observe the programme peacefully. If the law enforcers try to obstruct us, we will have no choice but to retaliate," said Bimal Biswas, general secretary of the Bangladesh Workers Party.

He cautioned the government that hartals will follow if it tries to thwart the opposition programme next week.

Bimal said the entire country would turn into a battlefield in case of the police trying to repeat what they did in Kanchpur on Dhaka-Chittagong highway during Dhaka siege on June 11.

A senior police official preferring to be anonymous told The Daily Star that they will be on the alert for acts of vandalism by the opposition activists.

The 14-party combine, meanwhile, has been gearing up for the blockade programme. Senior leaders have already begun touring different parts of the country to mobilise pubic support in favour of the reforms agenda. They will continue the tours till today.

In last few days, the alliance held a series of meetings with transport leaders and workers where the opposition leaders requested them to keep their vehicles off the streets on July 2. It will also exchange views with different professional bodies.

AL acting general secretary Obaidul Quader told The Daily Star that they will announce even more vigorous programmes to make the alliance government accept the demands.

Leaders and activists of the opposition parties will gather mainly at four entrances to the capital--Kachpur, Abdullahpur, Savar and Tongi. Besides, they will be present at different strategic points like Gabtoli, Sadarghat, Mohakhali, Kamalapur, and Syadabad.

The 14-party leaders will take position in important streets, river ports and railway stations in the divisional headquarters. The leaders and workers will remain posted at Chittagong, Sylhet, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Ishwardi, and Akhaura railway stations so that no train could ply the tracks on July 2.

Upazila units of the opposition parties will cut off communications with the district headquarters while the district units will try to snap links between the capital and the divisional headquarters.

District unit workers of the opposition alliance will mass on the roads and highways near district bus terminals to stop the road communications.

Sources said the district and upazila unit leaders have been directed to muster a large number of people on the roads and terminals.

The opposition line-up held a meeting at the Workers Party office Wednesday with Shamimur Rahman Santa in the chair. The meeting resolved to resist any election under the present CEC and two commissioners. It observed that no fair voter listing is possible under the three and demanded that the government consult the opposition parties and make consensus appointment to the posts of CEC and election commissioners.