The government has planned a heavy security net around the EC Secretariat to thwart the siege programme.

The opposition leaders sounded a warning that if the government tries to foil the 'peaceful' programme, it would have to take the responsibilities for any untoward incidents taking place.

Tougher programmes including hartals, barricades and indefinite sit-ins in the capital will follow if the reforms are not made, they said.

Today, leaders, activists, loyalists and supporters of the opposition combine will gather at Russell Square and in front of Agargaon weather office in processions at 11:00am before marching towards the EC Secretariat.

Leader of the Opposition and AL President Sheikh Hasina had earlier on Friday announced the programme of laying siege to the EC Secretariat and election offices across the country to force the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance government to meet the demand for reforms in caretaker government and the EC.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed the ban on gatherings and rallies around the EC Secretariat for 19 hours from Tuesday midnight.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar has asked both the opposition and the law enforcers to exercise tolerance during the programme to avert untoward incidents. He urged the opposition to refrain from pelting brickbats at law enforcers.

When contacted, Workers' Party President and 14-party leader Rashed Khan Menon said the government imposes ban whenever the opposition announces peaceful programmes. They would violate the ban today, and the government would have to take all responsibilities for any untoward incidents.

Hasanul Haque Inu, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president, alleged that the coalition government is misusing laws to impose ban to save its 'loyal' EC. Inu, a senior leader of the 14-party, also said they would violate the ban today.

Police officials said they have been directed by the home ministry to take all steps to prevent the opposition programme around the EC Secretariat.

Sources said yesterday police were raiding opposition leaders' houses in different areas of the capital to arrest or harass them. But details could not be known.

"We have instructions to raid houses of senior opposition leaders to foil tomorrow's (today's) programme," a police official said preferring anonymity. "We will take position and put up heavy barbed wire fences from tonight (last night) at all the points in the restricted areas to prevent the opposition's march towards the EC Secretariat."

AREAS UNDER THE BAN
According to a DMP press release the streets under the ban are that from Agargaon-Rokeya Sarani intersection to Shishu Mela-Mirpur Road intersection, from Dhanmondi Road-27-Mirpur Road to Dhanmondi Government Boys' High School and from the school to Indira Road and Rokeya Sarani intersection, from Shishu Mela-Mirpur Road intersection to old Mohammadpur police station, and from Asad Avenue to eastern end of Dhanmondi Road-27.

Around 5,000 police, BDR and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel will be deployed in these areas to maintain law and order, police said.

Meanwhile, different English medium schools at different parts of the city will remain closed for today.

OPPOSITION'S MEETING
The 14-party at a meeting at the AL central office yesterday decided to defy police barricades. Alleging that the prime minister's recent speeches against electoral reforms have escalated the present political crisis, the meeting said if the democratic process in the country is hampered, she (PM) will be fully responsibilities for it.

The meeting, chaired by city unit Coordinator of the combine Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya, also decided to mobilise people from different parts of the capital to make the siege programme a success. Senior opposition leaders will lead procession towards the EC Secretariat.

Obaidul Quader, Dilip Barua and Qamrul Ahsan, among others, attended yesterday's meeting.

Meanwhile, the combine's plan to realise its demands include laying siege to the PMO on September 12 and a grand rally on September 18. More agitation programmes will follow, sources mentioned .

Abdul Jalil, coordinator of the 14-party, said they would go for all kinds of democratic programmes including indefinite hartals, road, rail and river route barricades and indefinite sit-ins in the capital to compel the government to accept electoral reform demands.

NUF MARCH TOWARDS EC SECRETARIAT
National Unity Front (NUF), a newly formed alliance of several political parties, will also march towards the EC secretariat today demanding resignation of the CEC and three other election commissioners. Senior NUF leaders will lead the march starting at 10:00am from BDB's office at Moghbazar.