The grand rally of BNP which began in front of its Nayapaltan central office on Saturday morning  remained suspended in the afternoon following police action. The rally was suspended at 2:15 pm as police fired rubber bullets, sound grenades and lobbed tear gas shells, forcing the BNP leaders and activists to leave the rally venue. BNP men attacked police, vandalised cars in Dhaka’s Kakrail: DB says The BNP leaders also set fire on papers on the streets protesting the police attack. A tense situation has been prevailing in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area amid huge presence of police, RAB, members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). BNP rally: Tense situation in Dhaka’s Nayapaltan area The grand rally of BNP began in front of its Nayapaltan central office with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to press home their one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government. Police, BNP men clash in Dhaka’s Kakrail area, police box set on fire The rally formally began around 12:40 pm with recitation from the holy Quran with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to press home their one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived here this afternoon on a daylong visit to attend a number of programmes including addressing a grand rally. After a helicopter carrying her landed at Rangpur Cantonment at 1:13 pm, the premier was escorted to the Circuit House where she is holding a meeting with Rangpur divisional government officials. She is expected to arrive in the Rangpur Zilla School around 3pm to attend the grand rally which the Awami Leaders said will be the largest over gathering in the district with a participation of one million of people of all strata of life. A large boat-shaped stage was built by the workers of Dhaka and Rajshahi where 300 leaders and activists can sit together. The Awami League president later will address a mammoth public rally from the venue, her first in 12 years to be organised by Rangpur Zilla Awami League. Rangpur wears festive look to welcome PM Hasina Wednesday A festive mood has been prevailing among Awami League and its front and associate bodies leaders and activists, and common people for a couple of days over the prime minister’s visit in Rangpur district after around five years since she visited Pirganj and Taraganj on December 23 in 2018. The entire Rangpur wore a new look with decoration and lighting all over. The city roads have also been decorated to welcome the prime minister. Posters inscribed with pictures of the Father the Nation and PM Hasina are seen on most of the high-rises, important roads, medians and walls with colourful banners and festoonswhile arches and welcome gates have been erected on roads. AL never runs away from people: PM Hasina The Awami League and its associate bodies are serious to turn today’s rally into the biggest-ever one in the history of Rangpur and thus to show strength and public support in favour of it ahead of the next parliamentary elections.Rangpur gears up to welcome PM Hasina on Wednesday