The decision for the 6:00am to 12:00 noon general shut down was made yesterday at a meeting of the main opposition's central working committee with AL President Sheikh Hasina in the chair at the party's Dhanmondi office.

August 15 was officially observed as the National Mourning Day during the AL's tenure in power from 1996 to 2001.

The BNP-Jamaat-led coalition government, after coming to power in October 2001, scrapped the day and its official programmes.

The meeting also asked the government to erase the new insertion containing 'false' information in the reprint of Swadhinota Juddher Dolilpatro, the official history of the country's Liberation War, depicting late president Ziaur Rahman as the first proclaimer of independence.

"The insertion is a clear violation of the constitution which names Bangabandhu as the leader who had declared the country's independence," said AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil after the meeting.

Jalil said the meeting had decided to issue an ultimatum shortly to the government asking it to delete the distorted history and, if the demand were not met in the ultimatum period, to go for tougher action.

AL will hold a seminar in the city on proclamation of independence, in which programme personnel and staffs of the two Liberation War radio centres -- Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro and Kalur Ghat Betar Kendro -- will participate.

The AL central working body also demanded immediate implementation of the sentences awarded to Bangabandhu's killers.

Besides, it also chalked out a month-long programme beginning from August 1 to mark Bangabandhu's death anniversary. The programme includes milad mahfil, feeding the destitute, blood donation, mourning procession and special prayers at mosques, temples and churches.

AL central and local leaders will also attend similar programmes to be held at Bangabandhu's grave in Tungipara.

On August 15, one minute after the hartal ends, leaders of the AL and its front organisations will place wreaths at the portrait of the slain leader in Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in the city at 12:01pm.

That day the national flag will be kept at half-mast at the offices of AL and its front organisations across the country.