<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Thousands of leaders and activists of the BNP joined the party’s divisional rally in Mymensingh city amid tight security on Saturday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The rally, organised by Mymensingh city unit BNP, formally began in the Polytechnic Institute field, around 1:55 pm with the recitation from the Holy Quran.</div><div><br></div><div>An adequate number of police and other security officials have been deployed around the rally venue and at different points of the city to prevent any untoward incident.</div><div><br></div><div>The organisers said the rally was meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuels, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government--a demand sharply rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not allow it to happen.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP senior leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and some standing committee members, are expected to address the rally.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP activists started gathering at the rally venue on Friday night and many of them stayed overnight there.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP’s Organising Secretary Syed Imran Saleh Prince alleged that an ‘undeclared’ transport strike was going in Mymensingh and its adjoining districts since morning to prevent opposition leaders and activists from joining the rally.</div><div><br></div><div>He, however, said that the BNP leaders and activists were coming to the rally by walking, and by motorcycles or private vehicles and human haulers.</div><div><br></div><div>Police Superintendent of Mymensingh Masum Ahmed Bhunya said they took adequate security measures to maintain law and order and fend off any untoward incidents.</div><div><br></div><div>Saturday’s rally is the second rally by the BNP at the divisional level as the first one was held in Chattogram on last Wednesday. Similar rallies have been planned in other divisional headquarters to drum up support in the run up to the next election expected to be held late next year or in early 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP will conclude the divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>