Thousands of people led by the Opposition leader Sheikh Hasina yesterday marched from the industrial town of Tongi to Mahakhali in the capital. a distance of 15 kms. to drum up support for a non-party caretaker government for holding national elections.

The militant but disciplined padq/atra or long march of the Awami League began from the Tongi stadium at 4:15 pm and converged at the Mahakhali crossing at 9 15 pm. The five hour rnpreh which stopped several times to enable Sheikh Hasina to address wayside

gatherings. ended with a public meeting at Mahakhali Hasina s inarch was also marked by slogans, cheers, clappings and shouts by her supporters who participated in the march and also by those who fined the both sides of the road to have a glimpse of and listen to her.

Wearing a red-bordered cotton-print saree. that AL chief waved to the crowds on both sides of the highway

"My demand is clear I want to realise the people s rights to vote, choose their government and live in peace." she told the wayside gatherings

Accompanied by the central leaders of her party, Hasina crossed the long distance on foot and rode a rickshaw when she got tired.

Enthusiastic AL workers and supporters wore red and yellow bands on their heads and carried banners. festoons and portraits of Hasina and her fattier Sheikh Mujibur Rahman They also danced, sang songs in chorus and chanted slogans in favour of the Opposition demand for elections under a caretaker administration.

The pudqjatra was organised as pari of the 40-day agitation programme of the mainstream opposition parties — the AL. the Jatiya Party and the Jamaat e Islam! — launched on October 1 to realise the de

mand for a caretaker government.

The JP and the Jamaat also organised padajatra separately on the day.

Traffic movement was disrupted along the routes of the marches by the AL. the JP (from the Mukti Sarani to Jatrabari) and the Jamaat (from Aminbazar to Shyamoli) for several hours during the three identical but separate padq/atras towards the capital.

On her way. Hasina stopped at Uttara, Azampur. Khilkhet. Kuril. Banani Chairmanbari and some other places to address gatherings. She concluded her long march by addressing a huge public rally at the Mahakhali rail-crossing.

Senior AL leaders, including Abdus Samad Azad. Zohra Tajuddin, Abdul Mannan. Zillur Rahman, Sajeda Choudhury, Dr Alauddin., Amir Hossain Amu. Tofael Ahmed, Abdul Jalil. Dhaka mayor Mohammad Hanif and Mohammad Nasim Joined the march.

Addressing the rally at Mahakhali. the Opposition leader., called the BNP government "corrupt’, vote thief, inefficient and terrorist." and said "Free and fair elections under this government cannot be expected-"

The government of Begum Khaleda Zia will be compelled to accept the demand, for elections under a caretaker administration. she said.

"If elections under this government is allowed then the people won't be able to vote freely and their lives Will be in danger." Hasina commented while alleging massive riggings in polls held under the BNP government and killings and

repressions by the ruling party men in the mayoral elections in Dhaka and the by-polls in Magura.

Referring to the PM's remark that there was no instance of elections under a caretaker government, the Opposition leader said. "She (the PM) is telling lies” as she herself participated in the 1991 general elections under such a government.

"'At least three or four national polls under caretaker regimes in tHe future will ensure people's right to franchise and such an arrangement will also stop corruption and auto? cratic behaviours by an elected government." she said.

She also urged the people to strengthen the current agitation for a caretaker government.

'The-PM had agreed to include the caretaker issue in the proposed government-Opposition dialogue,"' she said accusing the PM of opposing the demand now, "You must accept the demand as you have agreed to include the issue in the proposed talks." she added.