A massive youth rally organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has started at Chattogram’s historic Polo Ground, drawing thousands of party leaders and activists from Chattogram and Cumilla divisions amid scorching heat.
The rally, which began at 3pm on Saturday, is being addressed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Senior leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury was also present, while the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman was expected to join virtually from London.
Chanting slogans and waving party flags, BNP supporters arrived in processions since early morning, with many having reached Chattogram as early as Friday night.
Leades and activists of the party from all 99 upazilas in the region are taking part in the event, which the party says is aimed at asserting youth’s political rights.
The area surrounding the Polo Ground has turned into a sea of people, banners and slogans, as affiliated bodies—Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal—mobilised members under central directives. Preparatory meetings were held at multiple levels in the run-up to the event.
Despite the extreme temperatures and packed venue, party leaders said hundreds of thousands of activists turned out.
To reduce heat-related risks, organisers have arranged around 72,000 litres of drinking water and cold lemon juice for attendees.
