The grand rally of BNP has begun in front of its Nayapaltan central office 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.
This grand rally started at 1pm on Saturday.
Dhaka Metropolitan North and South BNP units jointly have arranged the program.
BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas is presiding over the rally
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has attended the rally as the chief guest moderated by Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP Member Secretary Aminul Haque and South Acting Member Secretary Liton Mahmud.
While addressing the rally, BNP leader Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said: "No one will leave the ground. Stand up if you feel uncomfortable sitting, but don't leave an inch of space. The country is not the property of anyone’s father”.
Meanwhile, BNP will announce the new movement program for the fall of the government from Saturday’s grand rally, according to sources of the party.
Party’s leaders and activists also organized in that way and reached Dhaka.
According to the sources, BNP will give 24-hour time to resign from the government, if it does not work then the announcement of the siege of the secretariat may also come from the BNP rally.
Supporters have gathered since morning to make the rally a success.
BNP workers from different parts of the country have taken a stand in front of the party office since Friday, focusing on the mass meeting.
From this morning, leaders and activists came to the rally from different parts of the country bit by bit in the processions.
A BNP activist said that they have been guarding in front of the party office since last night.
Swechasebak Dal Vice President Saiful Islam Firoz said: “We will not hurt anyone. We do not believe in bombs and guns. The activists have come to this rally to claim their rights. But we will not let go if any harm is done to us. Our position will be strong.”
The roads and alleys stretching from Fakirapool 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.
Many leaders and activists of the party alleged that they had to face checks and barricades by law enforcement agencies at the entrances and in different points of the capital.
They also alleged that police detained many of their colleagues on ‘lame’ excuses in a bid to obstruct the rally.
Police also detained 200 leaders and activists of BNP, believed to have gathered for the party’s grand rally, from an under-construction building in Dhaka’s Kakrail area early Saturday, reports UNB.
The party set up a big stage on nine trucks and rolled out the red carpets and installed loudspeakers.
Artistes from the BNP's cultural body performed patriotic songs to keep the crowds invigorated.
Apart from BNP, other like-minded political parties and alliances are also arranging separate rallies in different spots in the city to press home the one-point demand.