The opposition BNP is holding rallies in cities across all divisions on Saturday to press home its 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-partisan caretaker government.
The main program was arranged in Naya Paltan in the capital under the initiative of Dhaka Metropolitan North and South BNP units and started at 2pm.
Naya Paltan and its surrounding areas were crowded with thousands of BNP leaders and activists.
Small processions of various units of BNP North and South Dhaka City were coming and taking positions in Naya Paltan and adjoining areas.
The party made extensive preparations for this program before Ramadan.
As part of this, leaders were working to increase the number of people at the rally.
The program is also meant for registering the opposition parties' protest against the rise in the prices of power, gas and essential items, and mounting pressure on the government to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition, essentially to drop the “false” cases against her.
This will be the 10th program of the simultaneous movement that started coalescing in December, towards the end of divisional rallies of the BNP that attracted massive crowds in all ten locations it was held.
Saturday's program was announced at a human chain held in all district towns and 13 organizational divisional cities, including Dhaka, on March 11.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the party secretary general, will address the rally as chief guest.
Besides, all other metropolitan city units of the BNP were also arranging a similar program to be attended by senior party leaders, including standing committee members.
Apart from the BNP, Ganotantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Gonoforum and People's Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote, 12-party alliance, Bam Ganatantrik Oikya and LDP are holding separate rallies from in different areas of the capital.
