Buoyed by the "grand success" of the public meetings In different parts of the country, BNP plans to take up more such mass campaign programmes to mobilise people's support in its favour.

Undoubtedly, the public meetings in Chittagong. Cox's Bazar, Jessorc. Satkhira. Khulna and Bagerhat have been a "grand success" as evident from the spontaneous gatherings everywhere, said a top BNP leader quoting the party Chairperson.

He said party chief Khaleda Zia was "moved by the unprecedented response of the people" during her visit to those districts In he last one month.

Sources concerned said the BNP Chairperson, while talk-

ing with the party policy makers and senior leaders over the last few days, expressed the view that the public meetings had a greater impact than hartal or such other action programmes.

A number of senior leaders also expressed similar views during the discussions.

One of the leaders said "The recent programmes of the party chief have encouraged her to go ahead with such mass contact campaigns Instead of hartals which paralyse normal life, badly affect the national economy and cause Immense sufferings to the party's field level activists".

A close aide to Khaleda Zia said she has already planned a series of lour programmes be-

ginning on May 10 and she is expected to continue her visits till the end of the month. She may not be able to continue the tour programme in the next month because of the rainy season, he added.

The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament is scheduled to visit Monohardl In Narslngdhi district on May 10, Kurlgram and Nllphamari districts from May 13 to 15 and Nagarkanda in Faridpur and Pangsha In Ra-Jbarl on May 17-18.

The aide said senior party leaders told Khaleda Zia that the mass campaign programmes has enhanced the image of the party and attracted support of tens of thousands to the Opposition’s antl-govern-

ment movement.

A policy maker of the BNP said the party wants to retain the support and spontaneity shown by the people during the recent public meetings.

The party Chairpersons visit to different districts and thanas is strengthening the party, inspiring grassroots level leaders and activists to take preparations for the next national elections side by side with continuing the anti-government movement.

A member of the BNP Standing Committee said that party leaders and activists had be-come demoralised due to boycott of municipal polls, frequent hartals and launching of "unplanned and untimely" one-point movement, but the public meetings of the party chief are now inspiring them again.

Talking to The Daily Star. BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said that the mass support to the part}’ clearly proves that the people have expressed their no-confidence in the Awami League government.

"We hope that the people will continue to support BNP as we are fighting for their welfare." he added.

Meanwhile, top leaders of the party including Prof AQM Badrudozza Chowdhury. Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Oli Ahmed will also visit different districts.

Mannan Bhuiyan begins a 3-day visit to Thakurgaon. Pan-chagarh and Syedpur from today. On the first day. he will attend Thakurgaon district BNP conference. He will address public meetings and attend party workers, meetings during the visit.