Professionals belonging to the Prokrtchi and the 26 BCS cadres yesterday went on three days mass leave as part of their renewed agitation to realise their 17 point charter of demands■

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A large number of officials in the Roads and Highways Department. Rajdhanl Unnayan Kartrlpakkha. Dhaka Electric Supply Authority, the Water Development Board and the Public Works Department did not attend offices after filing applications for three days' casual leave.

Leaders of the Prokriehi claimed that their mass leave programme was being observed

successfully all over the coun-try.

Works Minister Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia Saturday morning visited the Purta Bhaban and went round different sections.

Our Dhaka Medical College Hospital correspondent reported that no patient was admitted Saturday because th? doctors had gone on 'leave'.

Talking to The Daily Star, Prokrlchi leaders expressed their determination to continue their agitation.

"We will not bow to any kind of Intimidation." commented one leader.

However, no step has yet been taken for ensuring the early return of the officials gone on leave.

Secretary of the Central Action Council of the Prokrlchi, Javed Iqbal said that 90 per cent of the professionals have joined their mass leave programme.

When asked if any contact had been made from the government side to resolve the problem, he said. We have no yet received any offer for talks but hope that, for the greater national interest, the government will give a serious thought about our demands and take positive steps."

Meanwhile, a statement of the BCS General Education Association yesterday said that it had no link with the on-going agitation of the professionals.

Secretary General of the Association Slddiqur Rahman said that if the 12.000 teachers working in 249 government colleges remained united then the cadre's demands could be met through discussions with the government or through agitation.

Besides, the struggle of the government officials could not be similar to those of the engineers and doctors, the statement pointed out.