Political violence broke out in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and outside ahead of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia handing over of power to a caretaker government that would oversee the next general elections in January.

Police said unknown people burnt down cars and houses of former State Ministers Redwan Ahmed MP and Alamgir Kabir MP and former Speaker Sheikh Razzak Ali who deserted ruling BNP and joined the Liberal Democratic Party launched Thursday.

A party office of ruling BNP was burnt in old Dhaka where police and opposition supporters clashed with each other Thursday evening.

The violence erupted as the government rejected the opposition's demand for appointing a neutral person for the office of the Chief Advisor of non-party caretaker government.

Although former Chief Justice KM Hasan is to take the charge of caretaker government in accordance with the Bangladesh Constitution, but the mainstream opposition led by Awami League president Sheikh Hasina alleged that elections under Justice Hasanas Chief Advisor cannot be free and fair since he is a BNP loyalist.

The Awami League-led 14-party combine Thursday announced countrywide siege as soon as Justice Hasan will take over the charge of caretaker government. They would hold a grand rally in the capital on Oct. 28, the possible date for Justice Hasan's takeover.

Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil Thursday urged Justice Hasan not to become the Chief Advisor to push the nation towards uncertainty.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will address the nation Friday on completion of her government's five-year tenure. National parliament will also stand dissolved Friday making way for the non-party caretaker government to assume its office.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2006)