BNP set to hold 4th divisional rally in Rangpur Saturday

Amid a 36-hour transport strike beginning from Friday morning, BNP is all set to hold its fourth divisional rally in Rangpur city on Saturday, defying all adversities.

Party leaders and activists have erected a stage at the Rangpur Collector Eidgah ground where the rally is scheduled to begin at 2pm.

Several thousand leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies from different districts under the divisions have already reached the city in advance to join the rally.

Though bus communication remained halted between Rangpur and the rest of the country since Friday morning, BNP activists from 8 nearby districts were seen coming to different areas adjacent to the city by small vehicles like human haulers, auto rickshaws, three-wheelers, motorbikes, and micro-buses a day before the rally.

Talking to UNB, a number of BNP activists said they took position in Rangpur city and its adjacent areas in advance to avert possible obstruction and harassment by their ruling party counterparts and law enforcers on Saturday.

Only a few buses from Dhaka came to Rangpur on Friday, but no bus was seen leaving the Rangpur bus terminal for any destination since morning, causing serious suffering to commuters.  Inter-district bus services to and from Rangpur also remained halted due to the strike. The buses from the other districts could not enter Rangpur since Friday morning.

Rangpur District Motor Owners' Association has enforced the transport strike from 6am Friday to 6pm Saturday, demanding a ban on illegal vehicles, including three-wheelers, on the highway and an end to "administrative harassment.