BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will lead a road march from the capital towards Sylhet today aiming to mount pressure on the government for reinstatement of caretaker government system.
The march will start from the party's Naya Paltan central office at 10:00am, and Khaleda will address nine rallies on her way to the divisional headquarters.
The leader of the opposition in parliament will address a grand rally in Sylhet tomorrow at Alia Madrasa ground.
BNP will organise the road march and the four-party alliance led by it will hold the grand redly.
Leaders of the main opposition party have
warned that if the road march is obstructed, tougher programmes will be announced.
Top leaders of the four-party combine that includes Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote and Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) as well as leaders of Khelafat Majlish and other like-minded parties will join the road march.
Central and local units of BNP have made all prepara-tions to make the programme a success. Local units will give warm receptions to the party chairperson when she passes through their areas on her way to Sylhet.
Sylhet BNP yesterday brought out a huge procession on the eve of Khaleda's arrival in the city. Central leaders including standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain were present.
Meanwhile, the party accused the government of obstructing the road march programme by forcing the car owners not to rent those out.
Party Vice Chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka,
who is convener of the road march management committee, said yesterday it will be the biggest road march in recent times since about 3,000 cars will be in the motorcade led by Khaleda Zia. "Starting at 10:00am, we will reach Sylhet any time at night,” he said.
Besides the four-party alliance and like-minded parties, Bikalpa Dhara and Liberal Democratic Party will join the road march, Khoka said.
Khoka said they have held a meeting with police officials to ensure security and sought active cooperation from traffic police for smooth and peaceful start of the road march.
“We understand the city dwellers will have to face difficulties from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon as big motorcade will pass through Shapla Chattar, Ittefaq crossing and Jatrabari in the capital, and move to the highway towards Sylhet," Joint Convener of BNP city unit Abu Sayeed Khokon said after a meeting with police officials.
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said yesterday,
“Chairperson will lead road marches across the country to unite the people and then we will go for a final movement.” Fakhrul said this at a discussion in the city organ-ised by Zehad Smriti Parishad to mark the 21st death anniversary of former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Naziruddin Zehad.
On September 27, Khaleda announced three road marches towards Sylhet, Rajshahi and Chittagong. The party later postponed Chittagong road march due to the ensuing Eid-ul-Azha and hajj.
She will lead road march towards Rajshahi on October 18.
Fakhrul said yesterday Khaleda Zia will lead road marches towards Chittaong, Khulna, Barisal and Rangpur after the Eid to realise her demand for restoration of caretaker government system for holding parliamentary elections.
The BNP chairperson categorically declared that her party will not allow holding any parliamentary elections without a non-party caretaker government system.