The ruling Awami League yesterday claimed it had intelligence information that members of militant outfits might join the March 12 grand rally of BNP and cause violence in the city.

Party insiders said AL is worried that the anti-liberation forces would carry out destructive activities that day and put the blame on the government.

Considering this, Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina yesterday in a joint meeting at her Gono Bhaban residence directed her party leaders of Dhaka and its five adjacent districts to be prepared for any such conspiracy.

Leaders of the party's central committee and its associate bodies, and of Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Manikganj and Munshiganj districts, administrators of these district councils,

some ministers and lawmakers of greater Dhaka were present in the meeting that started at 7:00pm.

The premier asked the countrymen to remain alert as BNP might plot "genocide", like the Pakistani occupation forces had done in this month in 1971, in the name of anti-government movement.

Later at night she sat with the key leaders of her party to discuss remedy for the possible BNP-Jamaat plot. Hasina asked the leaders to keep contact with law enforcers on March 12 and inform them of any untoward incidents or blasts.

“We have information that BNP along with all the anti-liberation forces may go for destructive activities like the December 18 programme,” said Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AL joint general secretary, after last night's meeting.

On December 18 last year, the day BNP arranged a reception for freedom fighters, activists of the party and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami clashed with police at different points of the city. At least 50 homemade bombs were used that day leaving one man dead, many injured, 14 vehicles vandalised and city dwellers deep in panic.

Yesterday in the meeting, Hasina warned that if the opposition party creates chaos in the name of the grand rally, it will be dealt with iron hand.

"It is fine with us if they [BNP] hold the rally peacefully. But if they do otherwise or stage violence like December 18, we will reply them appropriately," she said.

Hasina said she was shocked that BNP had declared antigovernment movements in March, the month of independence. “It is painful that the opposition chose this month to protect the Razakars (collaborators of Pakistani occupation force).” she added.

She said the trial of the war criminals is on and it must be completed.

Referring to the countrywide violence after the election in 2001, the premier said legal actions would be taken against those who were involved in the aggression, none would be spared.

She urged her party leaders and activists to make the rally on March 7, human chain on March 11, public meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue on March 14, National Children Day on March 17 and the Independence Day on March 26 successful.

Meeting sources said AL men would be on the streets of the capital to help law enforces if BNP created any chaos centring the grand rally. The party would not let any anti-liberation force break the peace in the month of March.

“If the BNP-Jamaat men engage in any destructive activities on March 12, it will be handled firmly,” reiterated the AL joint general secretary.