BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the party's stance is clear in that no election will be held under a Sheikh Hasina-led government.
He demanded that the prime minister resign and dissolve parliament before the next parliamentary polls.
"She has to hand over power to a caretaker government. That neutral government will hold a free and fair election," he said while addressing a massive crowd at Bangabandhu Uddyan on the occasion of the BNP's Barisal Divisional rally.
The BNP leader said: “The right to vote is stolen every time the Awami League comes to power. They (Awami League) came to power by stealing votes in 2014 and 2018. They are thinking of stealing votes again with the new Election Commission. But polls will not take place under this government.
Dhaka Tribune “They are trying to prove that the new chief election commissioner is neutral who has said the election will be held through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). But we have strongly opposed it," he added.He said the aim of the ongoing BNP movement is not only to save party Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman or any other leaders, but to save the people of Bangladesh.
He acknowledged the contributions of and praised party activists and leaders, who started arriving at the venue from Thursday, defying all obstacles and facing immense difficulties due to the transport strikes.
Many BNP activists and leaders joined the divisional rally in Barisal city on Saturday, demanding the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and a national election under a non-party neutral government.
The rally began at around 11am at the city's Bangabandhu Udyan, with central party leaders joining it later.
The crowd spilled out onto the surrounding roads around 1.5 km off the venue, said locals.
People with banners and placards joined the rally from different parts of the district by boat, raft, bicycle, on foot, and even by floating on drums.
BNP activists started gathering at the venue of the rally on foot from Thursday night, coming from different districts and units under Barisal Division.
Many of them alleged that they faced obstacles at various entry points of the city, with ruling party men trying to block their movements.
Meanwhile, nine BNP activists were injured when the motorcade of Ishraque Hossain, a member of the BNP's foreign affairs committee, came under attack by miscreants while it was on its way to the party's rally in Barisal city Saturday.
Dhaka TribuneThe movement of buses, launches, speedboats, and three-wheelers in Barisal division came to a halt over the last couple of days, ahead of the BNP rally. The suspension of public vehicles' movement on roads and waterways has caused immense public suffering.
As part of its move to continue the pace of its ongoing movement, the BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities.
The organizers said the rallies are meant to condemn the price hike of daily essentials and fuel, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jessore, and to secure the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government - a demand dismissed by the ruling Awami League.
Saturday's rally was the fifth by the BNP at the divisional level. The first one was held in Chittagong, the second in Mymensingh, and the third and fourth in Khulna and Rangpur, respectively.
