<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">The grand rally of BNP has begun in front of its Nayapaltan central office in Dhaka 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.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rally arranged by BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units formally began around 2:15 pm on Friday with recitation from the holy Quran.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will address the programme as the chief guest and announce their next course of action to mount pressure on the current government to accept their one-point demand.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">BNP leaders and activists in thousands started gathering in front of the Nayapaltan central office on Friday morning to attend the rally. They even stayed at the rally venue braving the rain around 1:30 pm.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Carrying banners, festoons, placards and portraits of the party’s top leaders, the opposition activists from across the country took part in the programme.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The roads and alleys stretching from Fakirapul to Kakrail Mosque were crowded with BNP activists, halting traffic in the area. The expanding rally crowd spilled over onto nearby roads and streets and spaces up to Shantinagar.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Many leaders and activists of the party alleged that they had to face checking by law enforcement agencies at the entry points of the capital.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The party set up a big stage on nine trucks and rolled out the red carpets and installed loudspeakers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two separate stages have also been erected for the cultural activists and journalists.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Artistes from the BNP's cultural body performed patriotic songs to keep the crowds invigorated.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Apart from BNP, 37 like-minded political parties and alliances are also arranging separate rallies in different city areas to press home the one-point demand that includes the resignation of the Awami League government and holding the next election under a neutral government. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>