They marched streets chanting anti-government slogans, held rallies and besieged Deputy Commissioners' offices demanding an end to such dastardly acts by Islamist militants, alleging that these are being perpetrated under the protection of a ruling coalition partner.

In Bogra, the opposition's siege programme was foiled by police, where at least five of its activists were injured in baton-charge.

In several districts, lawyers' protests continued for the second day yesterday against the carnage that killed nine people including lawyers and policemen and injured 78 others.

Alongside the opposition alliance, ruling BNP also brought out processions and held rallies in Pabna and Magura condemning the attacks by zealots, our correspondents reported. Besides AL and BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami also brought out a procession in Mymensingh.

Our RU Correspondent reports: Lawyers joined by opposition political activists held a 'gayebana janaza' in the court area yesterday morning.

The congregation later turned into a huge protest meeting, largely attended by 14-party alliance leaders and activists, where speakers demanded resignation of the government for failing to protect life of citizens.

After the rally, the protesters marched main streets of the city, chanting slogans urging the people to topple the "protectors of bombers".

With Rajshahi district AL president Masudul Haque in the chair, speakers at the rally called upon the people to observe hartal today called by the lawyers to express their 'no confidence' in the government.

They also demanded a ban on politics based on religion and stern action against Islamist zealots who are "misinterpreting" Islam and defaming Bangladesh abroad.

Rajshahi Advocate Bar Association (RABA) also brought out a mourning procession in the city wearing black badges.

The Progressive Teachers Association (PTA) at Rajshahi University yesterday took out a mourning procession, paraded different the campus and held a rally demanding resignation of the government for protecting Islamist militants.

Speakers at the rally accused Jamaat, a component of the ruling four-party alliance, of harbouring militant outfits from behind the screen.

Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports: Speakers at a protest rally held at the Shaheed Minar called upon the people to intensify the on-going agitation to oust the government for sheltering militants who are blasting bombs one after another and killing people.

The protesters led by the 14-party alliance unit marched streets and laid a siege to the Deputy Commissioner's office demanding arrest of JMB (Jamaatul Mujahideen, Bangladesh) militants, responsible for the carnage in Gazipur and Chittagong.

Our Bogra Correspondent reports: The opposition programme to besiege the Deputy Commissioner's office was foiled when police charged batons on the procession on Temple Road on its way to the DC's office.

At least five activists were injured in the police action, opposition leaders claimed. Police arrested one person from the spot.

Intercepted, the 14-party alliance held a rally there.

Speakers at the rally alleged that the Islamist militants who are bombing court compounds are sheltered by a ruling coalition partner.

They called upon the people to observe hartal today and other agitation programmes to compel the government to step down.

In Satkhira and Kishoreganj, opposition processions were also intercepted near the Deputy Commissioners' offices, our correspondents reported.

The opposition parties held rallies there condemning the bomb blasts and demanding government's resignation for failing to protect people's life.

Demonstrations were also held in Natrakona, Moulvibazar, Mymensingh, Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Gopalganj, Faridpur, Barisal and Patuakhali.