Live Correspondent: Leaders and activists of BNP have started gathering in Rangpur city, two before the divisional grand rally scheduled to be held on Saturday. On Friday, it was seen that the BNP men started coming from eight districts of the Rangpur division amid the ongoing strike called by bus owners. Many leaders and activists of the party, who came from different districts, slept in an open field on Thursday night.  

 

Meanwhile, the gathering of people started to increase in the Rangpur Collectorate Eidgah ground as time progressed. Even though the buses were stopped due to the strike called by the Rangpur Motor Owners Association, BNP supporters arrived at the rally ground boarding on trains, private cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles and some of them traveled even on foot.

 

Transport owners are not renting buses, trucks, and microbuses to BNP activists showing the reason for security. The organizers say that root-level activists and leaders are committed to making the rally a success by coming to the rally venue at any cost.

 

Many BNP leaders and activists have entered in the city from 8 districts of the division, including Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram, and Lalmonirhat.

 

Panchagarh BNP convener Zahirul Islam Kachchu and member secretary Farhad Hossain Azad said that thousands of their leaders and activists reached Rangpur by train on Thursday night and Friday morning. Besides, the leaders and activists came to the rally venue on Friday night after boarding on a train, car, microbus, and motorcycle.

 

Thakurgaon BNP president Taimur Rahman said 5,000 to 7,000 activists reached Rangpur on Thursday after hearing the news of the bus strike called by the owners.

 

“They slept on the premises of a school ground in Rangpur metro area at night.  Later, in the morning they arrive at the rally venue. The leaders and activists will continue to come to the rally venue till Saturday morning.”

 

Dinajpur BNP general secretary Bakhtiar Ahmed Kochi said, “There is no strike in Dinajpur, buses are running from Dinajpur to Syedpur. However, all types of passenger vehicles are closed from Syedpur to Rangpur.

 

Our leaders and activists are going to Syedpur by truck and bus. From there, we will enter Rangpur city by Friday night.”