Rajshahi, Nov 9 (Just News): Newly floated opposition alliance Jatiya Oikyafront’s prescheduled rally has kicked off at Madrasa Maidan in Rajshahi city this afternoon to drum up their seven-point demand for hold the upcoming 11th parliamentary elections in a free, fair and credible manner.
The rally activities formally started around 2:00pm with recitation from the holy Quran and holy Gita. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s adviser Mizanur Rahman Minu is presiding over the rally.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rob, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed, Krishak Sramik Janata League President Abdul Kader Siddique and Gono Forum central leader Mostofa Mohsin Montu have arrived the rally venue.
Jatiya Oikyafront’s key leader and Gono Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain, who was supposed to address the rally as the chief guest, is not attending the programme today due to illness.
“Dr Kamal Hossain was supposed to board the plane with us but he is unable to join today’s rally as he is ill,” an alliance leader told our staff correspondent seeking anonymity.
It is the fourth rally of the Oikyafront as the alliance held rallies in Sylhet, Chattogram and capital Dhaka so far on October 24, 27 and November 6 respectively.
As the rally is being held a day after the announcement of the election schedule, the alliance larders are expected give an indication about whether they will join the election or not.
Huge number of supporters of BNP and its combine were seen gathering at the venue with placards and festoons demanding release of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
The rally is being held amid a 48-hour transport strike enforced in Rajshahi and Natore. A transport leader in Rajshahi told this correspondent seeking anonymity that they have been instructed not to rent buses to rally-goers in the region.
The rally-goers were facing difficulty to reach the programme venue at Madrasa Maidan in Rajshahi city this afternoon due to lack of vehicles. Bus owners have also allegedly called off almost all bus bookings made by rally-goers.
Huge number of law enforcement officials has been deployed around the rally venue to maintain law and order.
(Justnews/ys/1700hr)
