Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the party will hold a grand rally in the capital Dhaka to press home their demands for the resignation of the government, the establishment of a non-partisan neutral government and the release of party chairperson Khaleda Zia.

"As time is passing, they [government] are harassing our leaders and activists by increasing the arrests. The government is very scared. There is no ground under their feet," he said speaking as the chief guest at the protest rally held in front of the party's central office in Nayapaltan on Wednesday (18 October).

"Make safe exit with respect - don't leave with tragic consequences through mass movement," he added. 

He also said the government is continuing to spread propaganda, using social media to mislead people.

"But they have failed, as evidenced by today's rally," Mirza Fakhrul said. 

Speaking at the event, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the party will not sit for any discussions until the current government resigns.

"BNP certainly believes in talks, but not before Sheikh Hasina leaves power," he said.

"Make a decision during the Puja holidays and resign.  Then we will discuss about the election," Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury added.

BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, said, "We are not protesting for sitdowns, our demonstrations are for ousting the government."

"Obaidul Quader admitted that if BNP stages protests in Dhaka, the situation will be like Shapla Chattar. They have killed thousands of people in Shapla Chattar," Mirza Abbas said.

"We have been elected three times by the people's vote and have run the country. They can't scare us," he added.

Earlier, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the issue of holding a dialogue may be considered only if the BNP withdraws its conditions to take part in the election.

"BNP wants resignation of the prime minister, dissolution of the Parliament, election under a caretaker government and resignation of the Election Commission. We will think about dialogue only if they withdraw these conditions," said Obaidul Quader on 15 October.

The rally was scheduled for 2pm in front of the BNP's central office in Nayapaltan but it began early as hundreds of activists of various units gathered in Malibagh, Kakrail, Nightingale, Matsyabhaban, Paltan, Fakirapool, Motijheel, Arambagh, and Pirjangi junction of the capital areas since morning.

All traffic has been halted from Nightingale Junction to the Fakirapool area in the capital.

Awami League is also scheduled to hold a rally at Baitul Mukarram area in Motijheel around 3pm.

Centering rallies of both AL and BNP in the capital, the police have already taken security measures to avoid any untoward situation.

Armoured personal carriers, riot cars, water cannons and hundreds of policemen have been deployed at Nayapaltan and Baitul Mokarram's south gate.