Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) standing committee member and one of the main speakers of the party’s divisional rally in Barishal said on Saturday that the presence of thousands of people at Bangabandhu Udyan amid all the obstacles proved how much these people loved the country and the party. “I couldn’t talk to anyone on phone after coming to Barishal. The live telecast of our programme was disrupted due to an absence of internet services. Yet, the entire Barishal had become a city of meetings and processions. Our rally was successfully conducted after winning against all the odds. Now my question is, what did the government gain through blocking everything?” Abbas said. Read more: AL trying to snatch votes again, just like they did in 2014 and 2018: Fakhrul The BNP leader added that the incumbent government will completely ruin the country, unless they are removed from power through a free and fair election. “We’ll never accept an election under the current government. Neither will we let anyone hold an election through electronic voting machines (EVM). The upcoming general election has to be held under a non-partisan caretaker government and through ballot papers, not other way around,” Abbas added. Read more: Barishal's Bangabandhu Park already a sea of BNP leaders, activists

Nine people were injured when the motorcade of Ishraque Hossain, member of BNP’s foreign affairs committee, was attacked by miscreants on the way to the party’s divisional rally venue in Barishal city this morning (November 05, 2022). Ishraque, also BNP’s Dhaka South City unit leader, was unhurt and reached the venue around 9 am. A number of vehicles were also vandalised during the attack, BNP activists said. Ishraque said a group of miscreants attacked their motorcade when they reached Mahilara Bazar in Gouranadi upazila in the morning. Also read: Thousands gather in Barishal city to join BNP rally Nine activists and leaders of BNP, including Shahidul Haque, general secretary of No 38 Ward of Dhaka South City unit of BNP, and Mamun Bhuiya were injured in the attack. Ishraque also said that they faced a number of obstructions on their way to Barishal. BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said a group of Awami League and its associate bodies’ activists, numbering 50-60, intercepted the vehicle carrying Ishtiaque Aziz Ulfat, president of Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, at Gouranadi Bus Stand in Barishal this morning. Later, they forced him to turn back to Dhaka, he said. Read More: Barishal's Bangabandhu Park already a sea of BNP leaders, activists

Defying all challenges, BNP is ready to hold its fifth divisional rally in Barishal city on Saturday (November 05, 2022). Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies from different districts under the Barishal division have already reached the city, to join the rally. Party leaders and activists have erected a 50ft long stage at the Bangabandhu Udyan where the rally is scheduled to begin at 2pm. Also read: Barishal's Bangabandhu Park already a sea of BNP leaders, activists Besides, 120 loudspeakers were also installed in and around the podium, said Khandakar Abul Hossain Limon, joint convener of the committee to prepare the stage for the Barishal BNP divisional rally. Bus, launch, speedboat, three-wheeler movements in Barishal division have come to a halt over the last couple of days, ahead of the BNP rally. Sudden suspension of public vehicle movement on roads and waterways have caused immense public suffering. Also read: Barishal transport strike ahead of BNP rally hits commuters hard The official reason behind the suspension of bus, three-wheeler, launch and speedboat movement could not be known yet. As part of its move to continue the pace of its ongoing movement, BNP on September 27 announced a series of public rallies in 10 divisional cities. The organisers said the rally is meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuel, 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. Read More: Ishraque says motorcade attacked on the way to BNP’s Barishal rally 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. Saturday’s rally will be the fifth by the BNP at the divisional level. The first one was held in Chattogram, the second one in Mymensingh, and the third and fourth in Khulna and Rangpur, respectively.