The procession marking the 28th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) virtually turned into a massive election campaign on around fifteen-kilometre route of the march, just ahead of handover of power to a caretaker government by the four-party ruling alliance.

The massive procession, one of the largest political programmes by BNP in recent times, apparently was a show of strength. It started at about 4:20pm from Naya Bazar, at the southern part of the city and touched on its way at least 20 important points of five constituencies out of eight in the city before ending at Gabtoli, the northern part of the city, at 7:15pm.

Beating drums, waving multicoloured placards, banners, festoons, the party and national flags, and portraits of late president Ziaur Rahman, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and their son Tarique Rahman, enthusiastic supporters of BNP from different parts of the city joined the procession.

Thousands of cheerful people marched in the several kilometres long procession chanting slogans. Clad in multicoloured outfits a few supporters enacted the process of rice cultivation on mock paddy fields to express their support to the sheaf of paddy, the electoral symbol of BNP.

Thick rows of people were standing on both sides of the 15-kilometer route and many of them were dancing and chanting slogans, while many others were seen standing on rooftops to have a glimpse of the prime minister.

Standing on an open-roof sports utility vehicle, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia with sunglasses on, led the procession to Gabtoli while other leaders including Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Tarique Rahman sometimes walked with the marchers and sometimes stood on cars.

While inaugurating the procession at Naya Bazar, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia urged the people to vote for BNP in the next election. "The election of 2007 is very important for the country. I hope you will help to continue the development of the country by voting for BNP in the next election," she said.

"Bangladesh cannot be run by the will of any individual or any party but the constitution. The next election will be held in accordance with the constitution under a neutral caretaker government," she said firmly.

"The caretaker government will take over in line with the constitution and after conducting the election it will handover the power to elected representatives," Khaleda said adding that the BNP-led alliance government will handover power to a caretaker government on expiry of the ruling alliance's tenure in two months.

The BNP chairperson asked her party leaders and activists to remain alert against any conspiracy to split and weaken the party and said conspiracies are still being hatched against the country and BNP.

Criticising the previous government Khaleda Zia said the country suffered from terrorism because it failed to ensure security for the people and also destroyed the economy of the country. But the economy is now strong enough, she added.

After the procession reached Gabtoli she told the crowd, "The people again demonstrated today that all conspiracies will be foiled."

The procession marched through Gulistan, Zero Point, Purana Paltan, Bijoy Nagar, Kakrail, Malibagh, Mouchak, Moghbazar, Bangla Motor, Panthpath, Green Road, Farm Gate, Asad Gate and Shyamoli.

BNP Secretary General also LGRD and Cooperative Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, and Mayor of Dhaka City Sadeque Hossain Khoka also spoke on the occasion.

The authorities maintained tight security along the route. Law enforcers including a large number Special Security Force (SSF) and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel were put on rooftops of buildings along the route while a RAB helicopter was hovering over the procession all through the route. About 10,000 policemen were also deployed to ensure security.