Bangladesh's Awami League-led Combined Opposition Parties Tuesday mooted a 23-point Minimum Common Program from their grand rally here as charter of their action from now on to next elections, which they want immediately.

Awami League General Secretary Abdul Jalil MP read out the 23- point charter, which they promised to follow as a roadmap to the polls and implement if and when they form the government.

The 23-point program includes establishing non-communal democratic government through general election free from the sphere of influence of black money, terrorism and communal feelings; establishing the rule of law and repealing all laws contradictory to fundamental rights and stopping extra-judicial killings and arrest; identifying and arresting religious fanatics and culprits responsible for bombings; publishing accounts of the assets of government officials to root out corruption; and bringing down prices of essentials within the reach of the commoners.

During the rally, opposition supporters burned down a police requisitioned bus in a clash as police fired tear gas shells to disperse the angry mob.

Thousands of helmeted police, wearing bulletproof vests, built a strong security fence over 1-km radius surrounding the historic Paltan Maidan where the Awami League-led combined opposition staged the grand rally.

Some 15,000 police personnel were posted in the capital, including 5,000 ringing the Paltan ground.

Terrorist activities have been escalating in Bangladesh since Aug. 17 countrywide bombing made by Islamic outfit Jammatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which left three people killed and over 150 other injured.

The latest bomb blast on Nov. 14 was the first suicide bombing in the country, which killed two senior assistant judges.

The suicide squad of the banned Islamic outfit JMB wants to establish Islamic rules in this Muslim majority South Asian country and has threatened to blow up the major government offices, courts and all Liberation War memorials if "the law of Allah is not introduced."

Source: Xinhua