<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the party's divisional rally in Khulna city today, defying various obstacles and transport strike.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rally, organised by Khulna city unit of BNP, formally began on the Sonali Bank premises around 11:30am, two and half hours earlier than the scheduled time, with recitation from the Holy Quran.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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 style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The organisers said the rally was meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuel, the death of five party men in previous police action in Bhola, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Jashore, and to ensure the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">BNP has long been demanding that the next general election be held under a caretaker government, not under any political government — a demand rejected by the ruling Awami League as the constitution does not allow it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">BNP senior leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and some standing committee members, are expected to address the rally.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">BNP activists started gathering at the rally venue last night and many of them stayed overnight there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ruling party activists were seen taking position in different entry points with sticks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Khulna city unit BNP member secretary Shafiqul Alam Tuhin alleged that their party activists faced various obstructions on their way to Khulna.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He alleged that police started raiding the houses of their party leaders and activists since Thursday and arrested 47 of them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today’s rally is the third by the BNP at the divisional level as the first one was held in Chattogram and the second one in Mymensingh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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 style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">BNP will conclude the divisional rallies through a mass gathering in Dhaka city on December 10.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Khulna city virtually turned into a city of processions since this morning centring the rally. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">bnbd24/kh</div>