Grassroots-level non-gov-ernment organisations from across the country will hold a massive rally of poor men and women in the city's Manik Miah Avenue at 11 am today.

Disclosing this at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday, the organisers said the rally will call for building a poverty-free society in the country.

The rally is being organised by the Trinamool Janasangathan (grassroots organisation), backed by the Association of Development Agencies (ADAB). an association of NGOs.

The organisers told newsmen that they were expecting that nearly one lakh poor people representing grassroots level organisations from across the country would attend the rally.

We will organise a social revolution to achieve the goals." said Hare Krishna Roy Palash. an NGO activist In Bari sal.

Another member of the preparatory committee. Momtaz Alam, read out the announcement of the rally, in which they demanded that the government give 50 per cent of the development budget for poverty alleviation.

Kazi Faruque Ahmed. Chairman of the ADAB and

convenor of the national advisory committee for the rally informed that about 700 NGOs are working for holding the rally.

Khushi Kabir of Nijera Kari a member of the national preparatory committee also replied to questions at the press conference.