The maiden public rally of the newly-formed coalition, Jatiya Oikya Front, has begun in Sylhet — amid allegations that many BNP supporters and activists have been barred from attending.
Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury is presiding over the rally that started at 2pm on Wednesday, at the Registrar's Office Field, in Bandarbazar.
A number of activists of the BNP and its affiliate organizations were seen marching to the rallying point, carrying banners demanding release of their incarcerated party chief Khaleda Zia.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, barrister Moudud Ahmed, and Abdul Moin Khan, JSD President ASM Abdur Rab, its General Secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Nagarik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, among others, are attending the rally.
Leaders of the alliance reached Sylhet in the morning and offered their prayers at the shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal and Hazrat Shah Paran.
Meanwhile, the BNP’s Sylhet unit President Abul Kaher Chowdhury Shamim has claimed that police raided the residences of many BNP activists and some activists were arrested
He alleged that the party’s activists were obstructed on their way to the rally.
Kotwali police station’s Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Selim Mia declined to comment.