The rally held at Laldighi Maidan was the alliance's last showdown in support of its candidate as a month-long polls campaign drew to a close at midnight yesterday.

Alliance high-ups who addressed the rally included BNP Secretary General and Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman and Jamaat-e-Islami parliamentary team leader Delawar Hossain Saidee.

The leaders said the port city needs a mayor believing in politics of development. Mir Nasir is the right person for this post, they said and called for electing him.

Mannan Bhuiyan said the mayor of the port city also had duties both at national and international levels. Mir Nasir, also a former ambassador, is undoubtedly a competent person to shoulder such responsibilities, he claimed.

On the Awami League-backed Nagorik Committee candidate ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Bhuiyan said he is instigating his supporters to resort to violence by turning up at the polling centres with lethal weapons. "But we call upon the city dwellers to come to vote maintaining peace and order. The authorities are to ensure their safety and security," he added.

Tarique said BNP wants a person through whom it can develop Chittagong as commercial capital in the true sense.

Calling upon the city dwellers to elect Mir Nasir, Tarique said he will be able to realise this objective.

Syeedi said Mir Nasir should be elected to resist any evil bid to lease out the port to a neighbouring country.

Mir Nasir sought vote to give him a chance to serve the city dwellers.

Other speakers included Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdullah Al Noman, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, former commerce minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister for Labour and Employment Amanullah Aman and Islami Oikya Jote leader Mufti Izharul Islam Chowdhury.