People arriving in droves for Sylhet BNP rally
Just a day before the transport strike in three districts of Sylhet division, a large number of BNP supporters yesterday arrived at the Sylhet venue where the party will hold a rally on Saturday.
BNP activists said fear of police harassment was also a reason why they were doing this.
Road transport associations earlier announced that they would enforce a 36-hour strike from 6:00am on Friday in Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Sunamganj districts and another 12-hour strike from 6:00am on Saturday in Sylhet.
The associations said the strike was being announced mainly to press home their demand to keep unauthorised three-wheelers off the highways.
Meanwhile, hundreds of BNP supporters have already arrived on the premises of Sylhet Alia Madrasa in Chowhatta area of the city and set up tents to sleep at night and people kept arriving until last night.
Kalam Ahmed who came from Baniachong, Habiganj, said, "We would have faced troubles to join the rally if we didn't arrive before the strike. Besides, the situation is getting worse as police are harassing and arresting us ahead of our rally. That is why we came to Sylhet two days before the event.
Shoyeb Miah, who came from Sunamganj's Jamalganj upazila, said, "We decided to come well ahead as our leaders promised us of accommodation in Sylhet city."
Event organisers said they set up 40 tents at the venue and rented 25 community centres in the city for the supporters.
Over the last 10 days, at least 20 BNP activists got arrested in Sylhet division, according to media reports.
Police said the arrestees were accused in different criminal cases.
The BNP maintains that such arrests were aimed at spreading fear among the activists ahead of the big event.
Tension was palpable in Chowhatta area as several hundred activists and leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League gathered at an intersection just about 50 metres away from the rally venue yesterday afternoon and rode their motorcycles around it.
BNP has been holding rallies in the divisional cities protesting the price hike of essentials and fuel. Transport strikes were also called ahead of recent BNP rallies in Mymensingh, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal and Faridpur.
The party maintains that these strikes are part of an attempt by the ruling AL to keep BNP supporters away from the rallies.
However, AL central leaders and multiple ministers denied the allegation.
[Our correspondents from Sylhet and Moulvibazar contributed to the report]
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