Amid ongoing talks with the ruling party over the general elections, Jatiya Oikya Front leader Dr Kamal Hossain has vowed to continue protest programmes.

“The government’s assurances have no value, which is clear from the last five years. The Constitution has been totally disregarded,” said the Gano Forum chief, who launched an alliance with the BNP and two other parties last month.

The country belongs to the people, not to any royalty, he said while addressing a public rally in Dhaka on Tuesday. “We (the people) will have to unite as the owner of the country and take steps to ensure a fair election.”

It is the first public meeting of the Jatiya Oikya Front in Dhaka, which came after its previous rallies in Sylhet and Chattogram.