Thousands throng Nayapaltan ahead of BNP's grand rally

BNP leaders and activists have been arriving at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters since morning to take part in the grand rally set to start at 2:00pm.

Wearing colourful dresses, the party men have been coming to the rally venue chanting anti-government slogans, carrying posters, festoons, and placards.

Some have taken to the stage and were seen singing to motivate the attendees.

Senior BNP leaders are yet to arrive at the spot.

Thousands of BNP activists gathered in front of the Anti-Corruption Commission office and Matsya Bhaban intersection aiming to join the BNP rally at Nayapaltan.

A similar situation could be seen in Kakrail intersection, Nightingale intersection, Police Hospital intersection, Dainik Bangla intersection, Fakirapul, and Motijheel areas.

Many of the leaders and activists who came to the rally site claimed that several activists have been arrested.

"We were searched when we were coming to the rally site … many faced harassment," Hafis al-Assad, an activist from Tarabo of Narayanganj's Rupganj, told The Daily Star.

Hamid, a BNP activist from Pabna, said, "Five from our group have been arrested in the Amin Bazar area."

Police personnel were seen deployed in the adjacent intersections, along with Ansar members and members of intelligence agencies.