BNP's Sylhet rally calls for united movement to topple govt

BNP divisional rally in Sylhet has begun at the Alia Madrasah venue with calls made to topple the government by the means of a united movement.

Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury, BNP central committee member and general secretary of the Sunamganj district unit, in his speech urged party members and activists to overthrow the government to save the country.

"This government has destroyed the country. Our motherland and the people will have no freedom until this fascist government is removed from power through a united movement," he said.

Earlier the rally began at 11.30am, an hour before the scheduled time, with the recitation of the holy Quran by District Ulama Party President Nurul Haque.  

Thousands of leaders and activists of the party joined the rally, chaired by Sylhet District BNP President Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury, on Saturday with much enthusiasm to make it yet another successful showdown.

Sylhet Mahanagar Mahila Dal President Roksana Begum Shahnaz delivered the opening speech of the rally, moderated by Sylhet district BNP General Secretary Emran Ahmad Chowdhury and Member Secretary of Sylhet metropolitan BNP Miftah Siddiqui.

Earlier, thousands of BNP men gathered at the premises of Alia Madrasah defying all odds and hurdles to hold its seventh divisional rally on Saturday (19 November).

Defying all odds and hurdles, thousands of BNP leaders and activists have gathered at the premises of Alia Madrasah in Sylhet as the party is all set to make the programme a success.

Two Sylhet factions have set their differences aside to drum up support for the party. 

This morning, processions were seen passing through areas like Chowhatta, Zindabazar, Rikabibazar, and Lambazar in the city every now and then. 

The participants in the procession held the party symbol "sheaf of paddy" and the photos of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. 

The rally venue, Alia Madrasah ground, was full on Friday afternoon. Many leaders and activists were seen taking positions on the nearby Rikabibazar-Chowhatta road causing a traffic jam on this road.

Organisers have kept a chair empty on the main rally stage for former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, convicted over corruption charges, as a symbolic gesture. 

Sylhet turned into a city of procession by Friday evening with thousands of BNP men entering the town in flocks every now and then amid the unannounced suspension of public transport. 

The transport strike, however, has once again failed to stop the leaders and supporters of BNP gathered in the city using various modes of vehicles including trucks, motorcycles, cars, three-wheelers, and even on foot. 

Also, many mobile phone users in the city have reported that they are facing difficulties while using mobile internet since morning.

From Sunamganj's Chatok, hundreds of BNP leaders and activists led by BNP National Executive Committee member Mizanur Rahman entered Sylhet city on Friday afternoon taking out a procession on motorcycles. 

Mizanur Rahman said, "BNP leaders and activists could not be locked up in their homes with the transport strike which was supposed to be enforced from Saturday morning. But the owners stopped operating buses from Friday morning." 

He claimed about 10,000 leaders and activists from Chatok came with him to join Saturday's rally and many more would arrive tomorrow morning.

On Friday night, a festive environment was created at the rally by playing patriotic and party theme songs in the speakers set up for the rally. At the same time, activists in the field kept themselves energised by chanting slogans.

Ashiq Chowdhury, former vice president of the district BNP unit, said, "We are trying to keep the morals of the leaders and activists high through music and slogans. We will stay here all night."

Meanwhile, foods in large quantities were being cooked and served in batches to feed the rally participants. The festivity on the night before the showdown has attracted many along with general visitors. 

Meanwhile, law enforcers have installed nineteen check-posts in Sylhet to avoid any kind of chaos and untoward incident centring BNP's rally.

According to Sylhet Metropolitan Police, total 19 check-posts have been installed at the entry points of Sylhet city and hundreds of plainclothes policemen will perform their duties on Saturday to maintain the law and order situation.

Besides, four mobile court teams will be deployed to check security.

Nisharul Arif, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner said that police are on high alert and will monitor the situation closely, reports UNB.

Sylhet city wore a festive look with posters, banners and billboards and processions on Friday, ahead of BNP's first rally here in nearly a decade.