Leaders and activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) started arriving in Barishal two days early to join the party's divisional rally on Saturday (5 November). Defying a two-day long transport ban, thousands of party leaders and activists were seen in Barishal city's Bangabandhu Park on Friday. Read: Barishal transport strike ahead of BNP rally hits commuters hard Visiting the park on Friday afternoon, UNB found the place overcrowded as thousands have already arrived there and they are cooking their lunch. Monir Hossain, former organizing secretary of Khanjapur Union Jubo Dal of Gournadi Upazila of Barisal district said, 500 leaders and activists have come from our upazila to join the rally. Lunch has been arranged for all of them. "We have made all cooking arrangements for two days," he said.