The activities of the leading NGO came to a halt following the government's sudden crackdown on over 200 offices of the organisation, which had started on Saturday midnight and led to arrests of some 137 Proshika staff.

The crackdown was launched allegedly in suspicion of the organisation's preparation to send a large number of people to Dhaka to take part in the 14-party programme of laying siege to the Prime Minister's Office yesterday and an opposition grand rally scheduled for September 18.

Proshika sources said panic-stricken staff of the NGO are preferring not to attend their offices and are not staying in their residences to avoid arrests and harassment by the government.

Law enforcers yesterday continued their surveillance of Proshika offices, but no new arrest was reported till 7:30pm. Police however had picked up a Proshika employee at Dumuria yesterday but he was released after he had been taken to the police station, the Proshika sources said.

Some arrested Proshika staff obtained bail from local courts, but they were yet to be released from jails till 7:30pm yesterday, according to sources.

A Proshika official said two arrestees from Dhamrai, one each from Ashulia and Savar, five from Brahmanbaria, six from Bhairab, seven from Pakundia and four from Bajitpur were granted bail yesterday.

Meanwhile, different social and rights organisations in separate statements yesterday strongly condemned and protested the 'illegal arrests' of Proshika staff.

The statements condemned the crackdown terming it a 'violation of human rights' and demanded immediate release of the arrestees and a stop to the harassment.

The arrests and harassment of Proshika staff without any specific allegations or cases revealed the fascist nature of the present government, some of the statements said.

Some national organisations condemning the crackdown are Sammilita Nagorik Andolon, Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights, and Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.

The Nirmul Committee statement was signed by Prof Kabir Chowdhury, eminent writer and journalist Shahriar Kabir, and Kazi Mukul.

Our Rajshahi University (RU) correspondent reported that Rajshahi chapters of Oikkyabaddha Nagorik Andolan, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, Muktijoddha Sangsad, Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Rajshahi Union of Journalists', Udichi City Unit, Rajshahi Bar Association, RU Progressive Teachers Society, Teachers Officials and Employees Welfare Association of RU, Bangabandhu Parishad, Mohila Parishad, Rajshahi Theatre and Bangabandhu Ainjibi Parishad of Rajshahi also issued statements condemning the crackdown.