Tens of thousands of people locked hands forming a cross-country human wall yesterday to express 'no-confidence’ in the government in an unprecedented way with the Awami League (AL)-led opposition parties describing it as a 'stunning success' reflecting people's desire for an immediate step-down of the present rulers.

The 1000-kilometre human wall began at the south tip of the country,

Teknaf, and cut through 18 districts and two metropolitan cities -Dhaka and Chittagong - ending at Tentulia in the extreme north.

Organisers claimed over 50 lakh people joined the hour-long demonstration from 3:00pm to 4:00pm supporting the demand for an end to the BNP-Jamaat-led coalition rule. The government and ruling alliance men prevented about 50 lakh more from taking part in the programme across the country, they alleged.

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If the number of participants is that huge, the programme set a world , record in antigovernment showdowns.

According to the online Encyclopaedia, the longest human chain in the world - 595-km - was formed on August 23, 1989 through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in which two million people participated in demand for independence.

The participants yesterday carried colourful banners, placards, badges, headbands and ribbons, mostly inscribed with the opposition’s nine-point charter of demands and slogans like "Down with Khaleda-Nizami Government”, "Say No to the Alliance" and "Oust the Government, Save the Country”. They also chanted anti-govemment slogans like "From Teknaf to Tentulia. No More Khaleda Zia".

'Ihe programme was observed amid unprecedented security measures that included patrol by helicopters, installation of close circuit cameras and deployment of additional law enforcers along the human wall route. There were no major incidents of violence on the route, except in Bogra and Chittagong. However, at places the human wall had double or more lines and breaks at many points.

The AL, left leaning ll-Party alliance, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and National Awami Party (NAP) had announced the programme simultaneously on November 18 with a common nine-point charter of demands.

Earlier on September 22 this year, the AL-led opposition parties formed a 50-km 'human drain from Gazipur to Narayanganj and on March 30, the AL formed a 22-km human chain from Pallab i to English Road in the capital

Although yesterday’s human wall programme was scheduled to begin at 3:00pm, people gathered and lined up on the roads, highways and dty streets much before. University teachers, physicians, lawyers, cultural activists, trade union leaders and people of other sections of the society, apart from political activists, joined the programme.

They came to the human wall route in small processions and at places by buses and trucks.

The programme drew much attention of locals in different areas, pedestrians and passengers of buses and other vehicles on roads and highways.

The opposition parties brought out separate small processions during the programme asking the government to step down immediately.

At the end of the demonstration, they took out processions shouting slogans like 'down with Khaleda-Nizami regime', and many partici-pants also sang patriotic songs.

"We, in thousands across the country are condemning the government tor its failures to deliver and 11’’thousands more are witnessing it", Sardar Helaluddin, a diy unit leader of the AL, said at the capital’s Shahbagh intersection.

Asked about the programme's effectiveness to force the government to quit. Babul Mian at Kakrail intersection said, "This is just the beginning of a vigorous movement and we will continue our programme until the government steps down."

In the capital, top leaders of the Opposition joined the programme at Muktangon and other leaders at various points on the route. The area from Bangabandhu Avenue to Paltan intersection virtually turned into a human sea, halting traffic movement

"Participation of people is beyond our expectation and they have dearly

showed 'no confidence' in the government, braving all types of repressive measures including mass arrests and attacks at places," AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil said at Muktangan.

The government would be removed through a tougher programme to pave the way for a credible election under a neutral and non-party caretaker government, he said.

Leader of the ll-Party combine Rashed Khan Menon said the government has lost public support and it should quit immediately

JSD President Hasanul Haq Inu said. "People formed the human great wall to express their solidarity with the nine-point charter of demands of the opposition parties in the mildest, most peaceful and dignified way *

He went on. "This display of people's power will force the government to step down."

Ar Amin Bazar under Savar thana, Asif Mahmud, an activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League, said he is proud to take part in the historic demonstration." This peaceful agitation will make people aware of the government’s misdeeds," he added.

In the capital, the human wall touched Jatrabari intersection, Sayedabad, Tikatuli, Motijheel, Gulistan, Noor Hossain Square, Paltan intersection, Bijoynagar, Kakrail, Matshaya Bhaban, Shahbagh intersection, Elephant Road, Science Laboratory intersection, Kalabagan, Russell Square, Asad Gate, Shyamoli, KalyanpurandGabtoli.

Our staff correspondent in Chittagong reports: The human wall touched the port city from KalurGhat point to City Gate and stretched to Sitakundu and Mirersharai. Thousands of opposition supporters from different parts of the city and rural areas joined it

Our correspondent in Cox’s Bazar reported that participants in the programme lined upon roadside from Teknaf carrying banners and placards. The human wall also touched Bandarban where a large number of indigenous people joined it.

Our Cornilia correspondent adds: Hundreds of people gathered at different points on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway from Daudkandi to Chouddagram from noon and stayed till the end of the demonstration.

Our Narayanganj correspondent reports: The numan wall on Dhaka-Chittagong highway from Matuail to Meghnaghat was formed by thousands of people.

The human wall with breaks at several points touched Matuail, Shanarpar, Shimrail intersection, Kanchpur. Madanpur, Langolbandh and Mograpara to Meghnaghat

Local leaders of the opposition parties alleged that police obstructed their supporters from joining the programme at Sonargaon.

A report from our Nilphamari correspondent said central AL leader Asaduzzaman Noor MP led the programme in the district, joined by hundreds of people carrying banners and placards with anti-govemment slogans.

Our Rangpur correspondent reports: The programme was observed peacefully in the district

A large number of opposition leaders and activists from Rangpur and adjoining Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts participated in it

Our Dinajpur correspondent adds: Thousands of people lined up on the roads forming a nearly 50-km human wail