BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said people are fed up due to rapid increase in the prices of the daily essentials.
"If anyone tries to speak up against this misrule, they, including mothers, children, and even journalists, are put behind the bars. To free the people of the country from this spell, BNP has declared its one-point movement,' he said.
He made these remarks while addressing a brief rally at Bangabandhu Udyan in Barishal before starting BNP's road march at 11:00am.
"Some people have become rich being engaged in mega corruption through mega projects. Today, a child is being born with a loan of Tk 1 lakh. This parliament is not formed with the people's vote. So, the parliament must be dissolved. The government has to resign, and the election must be held under a non-partisan caretaker government. We have to achieve this goal through this road march... no movement goes in vain," he said.
Among others, BNP leader Selina Rahman, vice-chairman Shajahan Omar Bir Uttam, former minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, BNP Joint Secretary General Mojibur Rahman Sarwar, Barisal city BNP convener Moniruzzaman Faruk, and divisional coordinator Bilkis Jahan Shirin spoke at the rally.
Later, the road march began from Barishal's Bangabandhu Udyan. Hundreds of vehicles filled with people joined the rally.
The rally will end in Pirojpur after marching through different streets in Barishal and Jhalakathi. The party will hold a brief rally in the district later.
Earlier, thousands of leaders and activists from 42 upazilas of Barishal division gathered at Bangabandhu Udyan with festoons, banners, and national and party flags.
BNP supporters on both sides of the road were seen welcoming the road march, chanting slogans
The gatherings created a four kilometres tailback around the rally venue.
Sohel Ahmed, a BNP activist from Bhola, said led by former MP Nazim Uddin Alam, they took part in the road march with five microbuses, 10 motorcycles, eight pickups, and three buses.
Another BNP activist Delwar Hossain, who came from Patuakhali's Dumki, said they joined the road march with 200 motorcycles.
The party leaders and activists brought out the rally amid heavy rains.
The road march was at Jhalakati's Rajapur at 2:35pm when the report was filed.
