The alliance extended its sit-in programme at divisional headquarters and rallies at district towns also for today.

BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan in a statement yesterday called upon city, district and upazila-level liaison committees of the four-party coalition to make the programmes a success in their respective areas.

Meanwhile, the four- party held rallies and brought out processions in different areas of the capital yesterday as part of its counter programmes. Leaders of the BNP and its allies led the processions and addressed the rallies.

They said the people have rejected the Awami League (AL)-led 14-party's blockade programme because it created anarchy and resorted to terrorism form the very day of handover of power to the caretaker government. They will face 14-party activists in the streets if the four-party leadership wants, they said.

Mirza Abbas, joint secretary general of BNP, told a rally at Fakirapool Bazar, "After getting order from our party chairperson, we will force them (AL) to go back home with their indefinite programme."

Former state minister Fazlur Rahman, Gayeswar Chandra Roy and Jamaat leader Rafiqul Islam Khan, among others, addressed the rally with DCC ward commissioner Sajjad Sharid in the chair.

At a rally held at Moghbazar crossing, four-party leaders asked the AL leadership to give up the blockade programme, and said otherwise they will face dire consequences.

Former lawmaker Mosaddek Ali Falu and Jamaat central leader Abdul Kader Mollah, among others, addressed the rally chaired by DCC ward commissioner Chowdhury Alam.

City BNP President and Mayor Sadek Hossian Khoka addressed a rally at Sutrapur, orgainsed by local BNP.

Earlier at a joint meeting, four-party leaders decided to take steps to make their programme against that of the 14-party a success. "People have rejected 14-party's programme. They (14-party) have attacked our activists in the last few days. But from now on, we will respond to them in the same way," Khoka told reporters after the meeting.

Later in his statement, Mannan Bhuiyan alleged that the 14-party has proved itself as an "anti-people combine” by holding the people hostage with its destructive programme.

The people have already rejected their programme," he said, and urged the caretaker government to take immediate steps to bring back normalcy in public life.