Hundreds of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies gathered in front of Sonali Bank premises in the city on Friday night ahead of the party’s scheduled divisional rally there, defying the road and water transport strikes and various other obstacles to their participation.

The party workers and activists started thronging the rally venue around 11pm.

Earlier, the BNP followers took position in front of its party office on DK Ghosh Road in the city with small processions at 8pm.

From there, they went to the rally venue and started working to erect the stage of the rally.

Many BNP workers were seen carrying puffed rice and water bottles as they will stay overnight at the rally venue. 

Talking to UNB, a number of BNP activists said they took position at the rally venue to avert possible obstruction and harassment by their ruling party counterparts and law enforcers on Saturday.

As part of its divisional rallies, BNP will hold the rally in protest against the price hikes in fuel and daily essentials and the killing of five BNP leaders and activists in the recent movement and demanding the unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. 

The rally is scheduled to formally begin at 2pm where the party senior leaders, including Secretray General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

To make the rally a success, BNP men from different districts, including Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Magura and Kushtia, came to Khulna in various ways including by trains, motorbikes, human hauler and using the water ways. They took positions in different areas of the city.

Khulna city unit BNP member secretary Shafiqul Alam Tuhin alleged that their party followers faced various obstructions on their way to Khulna.

He alleged that police started raiding the houses of their party leaders and activists since Thursday and arrested 47 of them. 

Khulna District Bus-Minibus Owners' Association suspended the transport service from Friday morning ahead of the BNP rally.

Besides, the Khulna unit of Bangladesh Launch Labour Association announced a 48-hour strike from the same day to press home their 10-point demand.

The party has already arranged two massive rallies in Chittagong and Mymensingh.

BNP leaders alleged that many BNP leaders and activists were attacked, arrested and implicated in ‘false’ cases in Chittagong and Mymensingh over holding the rally.