BNP activists gather at Nayapaltan ahead of grand rally

Though the party is yet to get permission for its today's (Saturday's) grand rally in the city, the leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies started gathering in front of the party's Nayapaltan central office on Friday afternoon, reports UNB.

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 the agency, 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 today (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.