BNP chairman Tarique Rahman attended an election rally at the Polo Ground in Chittagong on Sunday, drawing a massive turnout of party leaders, activists and supporters.
The rally began around 10am, with Tarique Rahman arriving at the venue at around 11:50am.
BNP candidates from 16 parliamentary constituencies in Chittagong, including Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain, were present at the event.
Since early morning, leaders and activists from different wards of the city, as well as district and upazila units, streamed into the Polo Ground in processions, carrying banners and festoons and chanting slogans.
The venue was filled well before the program formally began, amid visible enthusiasm among supporters.
Law enforcement agencies, including the army, police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), were deployed in and around the venue. Traffic movement was restricted on several roads, while vehicular movement in the CRB area was completely suspended.
According to party sources, Tarique Rahman earlier attended a youth conference at a hotel in the city at 9:30am before heading to the Polo Ground.
The BNP chairman arrived in Chittagong on Saturday night after nearly 20 years and addressed the rally as the chief guest.
A festive atmosphere prevailed among BNP leaders and activists, with extensive preparation meetings and campaign activities held across the city and district ahead of the program.
Previously, the late BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia addressed a public meeting at the Chittagong Polo Ground on January 9, 2012. Tarique Rahman last addressed a public rally in the port city on May 6, 2005, at Laldighi ground, when he was serving as the party’s senior joint secretary general.
