The BNP policymakers believe the massive campaign led by party chief Khaleda Zia has formed public opinion in favour of caretaker government and created an antigovernment sentiment.

They expressed the hope the outcome of Khaleda's series of mass contact programmes will be reflected on March 12 and the capital will be flooded by party supporters from across the country.

Khaleda, also leader of the opposition, started her campaign by leading a road march towards Sylhet on October 10 and concluded it by attending a rally in bordering district of Lalmonirhat on Sunday.

"The March 12 rally will prove the success of the chairperson's programmes. From there the country's politics will take a new turn," said Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, a senior member of the BNP standing committee.

Speaking to The Daily Star, the former minister said the government's "absolute" failure to run the country and the chairperson's countrywide visits have inspired the people to come with BNP.

Rafiqul Islam Mia, another member of the party standing committee, said people have accepted the chairperson's stance on caretaker government system.

"Even the allies of the ruling party have

started talking in favour of our demand which has proved that a common opinion has been created among all thanks to our efforts to ensure free and fair elections," he told The Daily Star.

Khaleda led four road marches towards Sylhet, Khulna, Chapainawabganj and Chittagong and also addressed rallies separately in Bogra, Feni, Mymensingh, Chandpur, Laxmipur and Lalmonirhat over the last five months.

To garner public support for restoration of caretaker system, she also addressed over 50 wayside rallies across the country during the road marches.

Moreover, she led a huge procession in the capital on January 30, while her party also brought out processions at district levels on January 29.

Khaleda declared theses programmes from a huge rally held in the capital on September 27 aiming to mount pressure on the government to restore the non-party neutral government system.

The system, popularly known as the caretaker government, was scrapped from the Constitution through the Fifteenth Amendment last year. But BNP says it will not take part in the next general election if it is not held under a non-party government.

Khaleda has already said she would declare more programmes at the March 12 rally to force the government to meet their demand.