BNP is set to hold its ninth divisional rally in Rajshahi on Saturday defying transport strikes and various obstacles.
As part of its divisional programmes, the Rajshahi city unit BNP will arrange the rally in the madrasa field in the city.
By now, after holding their first eight rallies to resounding success, the main opposition party has proven its strength in numbers and organisational ability. It has even gotten used to tackling the obstacles planned to spoil success as the party says it will again defy bus and auto-rickshaw strikes in the region.
Party leaders and activists have erected a stage in Rajshahi Madrasa field where the rally is scheduled to begin at 11am.
Several thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies from different districts, including Natore, Bogura, Pabna, Sirajganj, Naogaon, Joypurhat and Chapainawabganj, under the division have already reached the city in advance to join the rally.
Though bus communication remained halted between Rajshahi and other parts of the country since Thursday morning, BNP activists from the districts under the divisions were seen coming to the city by train, trucks, and small vehicles like human haulers, auto rickshaws, three-wheelers, motorbikes, and micro-buses from Wednesday.
Ruhul Kuddus Talukhder Dulu, BNP organising secretary for Rajshahi division, alleged that their party leaders and activists have been facing serious problems due to the transport strike and obstruction by police in coming to Rajshahi.
Besides, he claimed that police arrested over 1,500 BNP leaders and followers in the division's eight districts centring the rally. “But no barriers can foil our prorgramme as lakhs of people will join our rally.”
The transport owners and workers enforced the strike in the eight districts under the Rajshahi division for an indefinite period from Thursday, causing immense suffering to commuters.
Besides, the Rajshahi auto-rickshaw owners association also enforced an indefinite strike on Friday afternoon. BNP leaders alleged that the strikes are meant for obstructing mass waves toward their rally.
The rally in Rajshahi on Saturday will be the 9th one by the BNP at the divisional level as eight others were held in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal and Faridpur, Sylhet and Cumilla.
A similar strike was also enforced ahead of BNP’s divisional rallies in Sylhet, Faridpur, Barishal, Rangpur and Khulna, but thousands of party leaders, activists and supporters participated in the rallies overcoming the obstacles.
As part of the 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 party will conclude the divisional programmes by holding its last rally in Dhaka on December 10.
The organisers said the rallies are meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom 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 sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not allow it to happen.