BNP rally underway in capital‍‍`s Nayapaltan with massive turnout

The grand rally of BNP has begun in front of its Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to press home their one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government.

The rally arranged by BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units formally began around 2:15 pm on Friday with recitation from the holy Quran.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the programme as the chief guest and announce their next course of action to mount pressure on the current government to accept their one-point demand.

BNP leaders and activists in thousands started gathering in front of the Nayapaltan central office on Friday morning to attend the rally. They even stayed at the rally venue braving the rain around 1:30 pm.

Carrying banners, festoons, placards and portraits of the party’s top leaders, the opposition activists from across the country took part in the programme.

The roads and alleys stretching from Fakirapul to Kakrail Mosque were crowded with BNP activists, halting traffic in the area. The expanding rally crowd spilled over onto nearby roads and streets and spaces up to Shantinagar.

Many leaders and activists of the party alleged that they had to face checking by law enforcement agencies at the entry points of the capital.

The party set up a big stage on nine trucks and rolled out the red carpets and installed loudspeakers.

Two separate stages have also been erected for the cultural activists and journalists.

Artistes from the BNP‍‍`s cultural body performed patriotic songs to keep the crowds invigorated.

Apart from BNP, 37 like-minded political parties and alliances are also arranging separate rallies in different city areas to press home the one-point demand that includes the resignation of the Awami League government and holding the next election under a neutral government.