A group of leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) locked horns with the police at the Khulna Railway Station.

They were on their way to join the party's divisional rally being held on the Sonali Bank premises, Khulna city, today (22 October). 

The BNP men alleged that they were obstructed and had to face many obstacles on their journey to the rally site.  

Khulna Railway Station Master Manik Chandra Sarkar said, "The BNP men ensued in a quarrel within themselves following arrival. At one point they broke the glass doors of the station. 

"They became more aggressive after learning that we had informed the police."

Additional law enforcers have been deployed at the station to control law and order. They have taken position inside the establishment while BNP men were seen protesting on the opposite side of the road as of 12pm.

Contacted, Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Additional Deputy Police Commissioner Sonali Sen said, "No one [BNP activtsts] was obstructed. 

"The situation is being brought under control with utmost patience."

Khulna Metropolitan BNP Convener Advocate SM Shafiqul Alam Mana said that the people of Khulna have never seen such "violence by the government and police" over a rally. 

"We cannot be stopped like this. Conquering all the obstacles, thousands of BNP supporters have come to Khulna to join the rally," he added.

BNP – defying the road and water transport strikes and various other obstacles – kicked off the party's day-long divisional protest rally in Khulna Saturday morning.

The party started the programme by singing the national anthem at around 11am. 

Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies have gathered together to make the rally successful.

They had to defy the road and water transport strikes and various other obstacles.

Speaking with The Business Standard, Mizanur Rahman Milton, a member of BNP's executive committee, said, "Party leaders and supporters have been coming to the rally site since Friday night. 

"More are on their way. Our rally started with the national anthem. Local BNP leaders are to deliver speeches first. Central leaders will take lead during noon."

Meanwhile, organisers have kept a chair empty on the main rally stage for former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, convicted over corruption charges, as a symbolic gesture. 

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the party's general secretary reached the Sonali Bank premises in Khulna at around 11am yesterday.

BNP leaders and activists claimed they had to defy obstacles, including hindrances from ruling Awami League men and its associate bodies and a shortage of vehicles, on their way to the rally.

To put things into perspective, Khulna transport owners have stopped inter-district bus movement and launch services while train tickets are also unavailable. 

BNP activists claimed that having no other choices, they started their journey towards Khulna soon after the announcement so that they could evade the transport strike. 

Some BNP men even took water and dry foods, including puffed and flattened rice, with them in fear that the hotels and restaurants might remain closed in Khulna on the rally day.

Earlier on 15 October, the same happened during BNP's divisional rally in Mymensingh.

They also alleged that police arrested some of its leaders in various old cases, apparently to refrain them from joining the mass rally. 

Denying such allegations, Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Commissioner Masudur Rahman Bhuiyan said, "We are not arresting any BNP leaders and activists. As per the routine work of the police, the accused are being arrested on warrants.

"Adequate security measures have been taken for the rally."

Earlier on September 28, BNP announced to hold public rallies in 10 divisional cities in protest against the killings and filing of cases against the party leaders and activists, price hikes of fuel and daily essentials and demanding the unconditional release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

The party already arranged two massive rallies in Chattogram and Mymensingh while the third one will be held in Khulna on Saturday.