BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that the only way that the next Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls can be held is under a caretaker government.

He made the remarks while addressing the party's 10th divisional rally at the Golapbagh field in Sayedabad, Dhaka, on Saturday (10 December).  

The senior BNP leaders said that  Awami League has to fully comply with the demands placed by BNP and ensure a free, fair parliamentary election under a neutral government.    

Echoing the same, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, another member of the party's standing committee, said, "The ruling party went mad after we announced our December 10 rally. They were unable to stop us, the rally, despite many attempts."

BNP leader Tabith Awal, said, "Today, these people [who joined the rally] have decided that this government has no right to stay in power. They must leave. They cannot stop us by putting our leaders and activists in jail."

Tens of thousands of BNP leaders and activists -- defying all odds, and hurdles -- started gathering at the rally venue since this morning.

Dhaka city unit of BNP arranged the rally that formally began around 11am on Saturday morning. Senior central leaders of the party are currently delivering speeches. 

According to sources inside the party, BNP will issue a 10-point demand, including the resignation of the ruling government and the release of Khaleda Zia from the rally. 

Party supporters from different parts of the city started arriving in and around the rally venue, forming small processions, since this morning. 

Procession participants were seen holding the party symbol "sheaf of paddy" and the photos of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and her son, the party's acting chairperson, Tarique Rahman. 

Rally organisers have kept two chairs empty on the main rally stage for Khaleda, and Tarique, both convicted over corruption charges, as a symbolic gesture. 

Addressing the rally, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain, son of former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, said, "This [Awami League] government has created a barbaric situation by opening fire in front of our party's central office in the month of Victory.

"We will topple the government by gathering crores of people in the heart of Dhaka. We will bring all their misdeeds to justice and send them to jail."

BNP finally got nod from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) to hold the rally at the capital's Golapbagh field on Friday.

DSCC gave the permission on condition that BNP would be held liable for any structural damage caused to the venue during the rally.

Many party supporters reached the rally venue in advance on Friday and started to set up the stage and complete other necessary arrangements.

The much-anticipated rally is scheduled to begin at 11am today on the playground instead of the road before the party's Nayapaltan central office, after a series of talks, protests, clashes and arrests of a dozen of its top leaders in the last few days.

Meanwhile, BNP's party headquarters remained cordoned off for the third straight day with adjacent roads and allies shut down and a heavy presence of law enforcers in riot gear. 

Some 32,000 police have been deployed in the city to maintain law and order. Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Hafiz Akter, told UNB, "A huge number of law enforcement personnel have been deployed in the city.

"Alongside, tight security is being ensured at key point installations. Police have strengthened their surveillance so that no one can create any chaos. It is hoped that the BNP rally will be held peacefully."

Meanwhile, no buses, trucks and other vehicles were seen plying on the road while a few CNG-run auto-rickshaws and rickshaws were seen.

The conditions that BNP have to follow for the rally are –  rally time between 12pm-4:30pm, CCTV cameras have to be installed at the venue, no procession towards the rally venue, no gathering on adjacent roads and no blunt objects like sticks and rods can be brought in.

As people continued to pour in, the crowd spread beyond the rally venue as they were chanting anti-government slogans.

Many law enforcement members have been deployed in the venue's surrounding area to maintain peace and order and avert any untoward situation.

A total of 4,000 Ansar members have been deployed in the capital ahead of the rally, Md Kamrul Islam, director (operations) of Ansar VDP, told the media.

Alongside police and RAB  Ansar members were deployed in different parts of the city to prevent any untoward incidents centring the rally, he added.

BNP called on all parties ready to hold a simultaneous movement against the government to join the rally.

During a press conference at the party chairperson's Gulshan office, BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday said the party would announce a 10-point charter of demands to oust the government at the rally. 

During a visit to the field, Farid Uddin, commanding officer of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-10, said they found some loopholes in security as there are some high-rise buildings and under-construction buildings around the field.

Both police and RAB members will try to tackle those risks, he said.

BNP, since 12 October, has held nine rallies outside of Dhaka to press home their demands which include the restoration of a neutral caretaker government during JS polls.

Tens of thousands of BNP leaders and activists joined the rallies defying various obstacles, intimidation and transport strikes.

Dhaka-bound passengers from different districts of the country including Rangpur, Nagaon, Bogura, and Munshiganj, suffered as many bus operators either suspended trips or operated on a limited capacity.

A very few buses were seen coming into Dhaka from the other districts. Most of the vehicles and passengers were rigorously searched and checked by law enforcers upon entry to the capital.