DHAKA: Opposition leader Khaleda Zia Monday led a mass march through the capital, asking the government to scrap the latest agreements with India that principally envisages transit to the neighbouring country.

The procession of thousands of slogan-chanting activists, with the ex-PM and BNP chairperson on an open jeep at the front, started off from the historic Paltan ground towards the termination point in Maghbazar.

Earlier, BNP leaders-activists gathered at Paltan with small processions from different parts of the city to join the mass march, reports a banglanews24.com.bd staff correspondent from the scene.

A pre-march rally was held at Paltan ground where mid-level leaders had kept delivering their speeches for warming up the activists.

The march started as soon as the party chief, Khaleda Zia, arrived at Paltan to lead the anti-government showdown, a major agitation programme after their June 27 hartal that had triggered stringent repercussions.
    
The demonstrators moved through Topkhana Road, Bijoynagar, Kakrail, Shantinagar and Malibagh.

Police administration took tight security measures along the route and the Paltan ground ahead of the mass procession to ward off any trouble.

Earlier, the administration had declared not to put any bar on the march.

But BNP had forewarned that if any obstruction to foil the march would call for further demonstrations.

BNP said demonstrations are being staged in the capital to protest government’s “misrule” and “repression” on opposition leaders and journalists.

Later, the agreements with India, particularly the just-signed billion-dollar loan deal for infrastructure building for transit facilities, cropped up on the list of issues.

The procession was also designed to protest “terrorism, tender-manipulation, grabbing and admission trade” allegedly by Chhatra League activists, price hike before Ramadan, preventing hunger strike, Prime Minister’s comment against Khaleda Zia, and the filing of ‘false cases’ against the party leaders.

BDST 1727HRS AUGUST 9, 2010