The major opposition parties observed a Protest Day.’ throughout the country yesterday ending their latest phase ‘of agitation programmes for a neutral caretaker administration for holding the next general elections.

The parties — the Awami League. Jaliya Party and Jarnaat-e-lslamj — however, announced no fresh course of action on the day.

The three opposition parties. since their MPs resigned on December 28. had been carrying out agitation programmes. announced gradually.

The parties would go for another phase of anti-government agitations after the forthcoming Eid-ul-Azha. Opposition sources said.

In observance of the Protest Day the, three parties held separate public meetings anti bfought put processions in different parts'of the country.

In tlx: capital,, the AL pnd the Jamaal organised public rallies, followed by processions. and the JP held a press conference on the current political situation.

Speakers at; the AL rally, held ‘ at fhe Bangabandhu Avenue jn the afternoon, teit-erated the demands for .immediate resighation of the BNP government, dissolution, of Parliament and holding of an early election under a caretaker qdministratfon. ,

They blamed tile Prime Minister for htr failures' to realise Bangladesh's due shares of the Ganges waters from India and narrow down the country's trade deficit wfth her.

Chaired by city AL vice president Redztiddin Ahmed, the rally was" addressed by Abdul Mannan. Slddiqur Rouf Khan, Nurul Fatal Bulbul. Mukul, Bose, Monir Hossain

Khan. - Akhicrul Alam. Prof fazltil Haq. Fayezuddln Mia. Habibur Rahman and Abdus Salam

UNB adds: The Jatiya Party will announce a fresh action programme after the Eid to force Die government to concede to its demand for a neutral caretaker government.

'The next election will have to be held under a caretaker administration and opposition parties are determined to realise the demand.” JP leader Moudud Ahmed said yesterday.

He was addressing a press conference capping the party's three-week agitation programmes. observed simultaneously with the other mainstream opposition parties.

Mopdud said the new campaign will be synchronised with the programmes of the Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami. But JP will meanwhile continue to hold rallies, processions and demonstrations until the new programmes are announced.

The press conference, held at the residence of acting JP chairman Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, was attended by the party secretary general Anwar Hosskirf Manju. Col (Rtd) Abdul Malek and Col (Rtd) Zafar Imam and other leaders.