The opposition combine has also announced programme of laying siege to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on September 12 to compel the government to accept reforms in the caretaker government system and the EC.

On September 6, the opposition camp attempted to besiege the EC Secretariat to press the same demand.

To thwart their attempt, riot police indiscriminately clubbed senior opposition leaders, lawmakers and the activists of the opposition combine, leaving around 100 people including AL President Sheikh Hasina's Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury and City AL Joint General Secretary Hazi Mohammad Selim injured.

The same day, a meeting of the 14-party opposition combine with Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina in the chair called today's 6:00am to 6:00pm shutdown.

Hasina warned of retaliation if the law enforcers go wild on the opposition leaders and workers during the hartal.

The AL and its allies -- 11-party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and National Awami Party (NAP) -- have done all-out preparations to make today's hartal a success while the government has assigned 7,000 law enforcers to different city points to maintain law and order during the hartal hours.

HARTAL PREPARATIONS
The city 14-party opposition combine held a preparatory meeting at JSD's central office on Bangabandhu Avenue to make today's shutdown and PMO siege programme on September 12 a complete success. AL's Acting General Secretary Obaidul Quader, city 14-party coordinator Mofazzel Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Hasanul Haque Inu, Syed Zafar Sazzad, Akhter Hossain, among others, spoke at the meeting. Quader urged all to make the hartal a success.

Meanwhile, the 14-party, Dhaka city AL, Awami Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League and Sarak Paribahan Sramik Sangathon yesterday brought out separate processions and held rallies at different places in the city supporting the hartal.

The city 14-party held a rally at Taltola in Khilgaon, Saber Chowdhury's electoral constituency, protesting police attack on him. Addressing the rally, the 14-party leaders said they would retaliate if the police attack during the hartal today.

After parading different city streets, Awami Jubo League held a rally in front of Muktijoddha Club near Bangabandhu Avenue with its city (South) President Mohiuddin Ahmed Mohi in the chair. Jubo League Chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Saidur Rahman, Mamunur Rashid and Fazlul Haque Atik addressed the rally.

The leaders warned the government of launching vigorous movements if they torture the opposition today.

The JSD also held a rally and brought out a procession in front of the GPO. JSD leaders Abul Hossain, Sawkat Raihan and Naimul Ahsan Jewel spoke.

Police sources said at least five buses were torched and several hand-bombs went off in the capital on the eve of today's hartal. Two people were also injured when hartal supporters hurled bombs at them at Siddikbazar area in the capital around 10:00pm, Dhaka Medical College Hospital sources said.

Meanwhile, law enforcers launched drives at different parts of the city last night to arrest troublemakers. They arrested a number of people on suspicion. Police said the drives would continue throughout the night.

PMO SIEGE ON SEP 12
The opposition combine will gather at Bangla Motor crossing, Russel Square, Agargaon and Mohakhali in the capital in procession before marching towards the PMO at 11:00am.

A meeting of the opposition combine with AL Presidium Member Amir Hossain Amu in the chair yesterday decided the spots and warned of going for one-point agitation to topple the government if it does not accept electoral reforms within September 18.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has been saying that elections would be held as per the constitutional process no matter who participates, Amu said, adding that as the prime minister knows people have rejected the ruling alliance for their widespread corruption and misrule, she wants to hold a single-party election.

Meanwhile, the opposition camp will bring out processions, hold rallies, carry out mass contacts, distribute leaflets and mobilise people in all the upazilas of every district adjacent to the capital from September 14 to 16 to mobilise a huge gathering at the grand rally on September 18.