BNP's divisional rally began on Alia Madrasa ground in Sylhet city's Chowhatta area today.
With Sylhet District Olama Dal's President, Nurul Haque, reciting from the Holy Quran, the rally began around 11:10am. Currently, local leaders are addressing the rally, reports our local correspondent from the spot.
The rally was scheduled to start at 12:30pm, however, it started a bit early as thousands of supporters gathered at the rally ground from early morning.
As BNP supporters arrived to the rally site in separate processions, police were spotted setting up checkpoints throughout the city.
BNP's Sylhet district president, Abdul Quiyum Choudhury, said: "More people are attending the rally than we expected -- we had hoped to welcome more than four lakh people. We anticipate that when more supporters join, the crown will spill over the surrounding areas."
Earlier in the day, BNP supporters were seen marching towards the venue in procession chanting slogans and holding placards.
Though the transport strike almost cut off Sylhet from the rest of the country, the activists, mostly from the four districts in Sylhet division, travelled to the city on rented buses, trucks, private vehicles, motorcycles and boats.
