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Thousands of long marchers of Awami League-led 14-party combine from all over the country thronged Paltan Maidan ending a four-day arduous journey, reports BDNEWS.
The leaders of the long marchers demanded resignation of Khaleda Zia's four-party coalition government and reforms in the caretaker government system and the Election Commission (EC). The programme ended with a rally at Paltan Maidan.
The 14-party combine has called for countrywide hartal on February 15 while announcing a month-long action programme against the government from the huge rally at Paltan Maidan Sunday.
On their way to the rally, the marchers faced obstruction by the police and the ruling party men in different districts while cops arrested several thousands people overflowing many police stations with innocent civilians.
Since early morning Sunday, buses, trucks, motorbikes and microbuses carrying opposition activists entered the capital through Gabtoli, Uttara, Syedabad, Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge-1 adjacent to Kanchpur and Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge-2 adjacent to Keraniganj.
But the entry was not warm for all marchers as they faced indiscriminate attacks by ruling party men at various places.
The dawn-to-dusk countrywide hartal on February 15 was called to protest the price hike of essentials and demand to slash fuel and fertiliser price.
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