Amid speculations, political tension, arrest of a huge number of party leaders and activists and protracted negotiations, BNP's last divisional rally finally started in the capital's at Golapbagh field this morning.

Plainclothes men identifying themselves as law enforcers picked up BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas from their homes in Dhaka early today, claims the BNP.

The BNP is no longer hell bent on holding its December 10 rally at Nayapaltan and it wants to avoid confrontation with the government over the venue.