Though the party is yet to get permission for its Saturday’s grand rally in the capital, the leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies started gathering in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office on Friday afternoon.
Many BNP leaders and activists who reached Dhaka from different parts of the country joined Jummah prayers in mosques around Nayapaltan. Even, many of them offered prayers on the streets at Nayapaltan.
After the Jummah prayers, they squatted on the street in front of the party office amid the presence of a huge number of law enforcers.
The opposition followers were seen chanting various anti-government slogans in front of the BNP office.
Talking to UNB, the BNP followers said they came to the rally venue in advance fearing obstruction on Saturday.
They said they want to hold the rally peacefully with the presence of thousands of people in a bid to send out a message to the government to step down and take steps for holding the next polls under the non-partisan administration.
The grand rally of BNP is scheduled to begin at 2pm on Saturday.
Earlier on October 18, the party announced the grand rally in the capital for October 28 to start the 'final phase' of action and programmes of the ongoing movement to topple the current regime, thus paving the way for holding the next election under a non-party neutral government.
On October 21, the party submitted a letter to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) office informing the police authorities that they want to hold the programme at Nayapaltan.
The party also informed Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Thursday that it is determined to hold the grand rally at Nayapaltan venue.
Later on Wednesday (Oct 26), DMP sent a letter to BNP seeking various information, including the two names of alternative venues to Nayapaltan, the expected number of people at the rally, its duration, where loud speaks would be installed and whether anyone from other parties would be present or not.
