Around 100 opposition leaders and activists, including opposition leader Sheikh Hasina's Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury and AL leader Hazi Mohammad Selim, were injured critically when riot police swooped on them to thwart the opposition programme.

The opposition combine will also stage demonstration across the country today, observing the day as a "day against torture".

The decisions came at a meeting of the opposition combine at the Dhanmondi AL office with AL President Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Hasina said whenever the opposition agitates against politicisation, misrule, price hike and corruption of the BNP-Jamaat alliance government, they use the law enforcers against them.

The police would not beat up Saber had there been no prior direction from the high-ups of the government.

Hasina referred to the prime minister saying in a recent speech that the election will be held no matter whoever contests or not. Now the chief election commissioner (CEC) is also following the PM's path and delivering similar speech, Hasina said, terming it an "extra-official" duty of the CEC.

None of the PM and CEC wants a free, fair and neutral election to be held in the country, Hasina alleged, adding that people's democratic rights to voting are not safe under this EC.

She demanded transparent ballot box in every polling booth and an updated voter list with photographs.

Senior opposition leaders attended the meeting.