The Daily Morning Voice Online Desk: Awami League leaders and activists have been heading to the Madrasa Maidan in Rajshahi since this morning to join the party’s rally today. Supporters, activists and leaders of the party also brought out processions from key points of the city this morning to go to the rally venue, reports our local correspondent. Many people came to the rally venue wearing T-shirts distributed by the ruling party. Three entrances to the rally venue have been opened. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will deliver her speech at the rally at 3:00pm. Rajshahi is all set to welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today for her first public rally in the district in five years.

Following a month-long preparation for the programme, a 5,000sqft stage has been set up, with a black boat as the base and white scaffolding on top, at the Madrasa Maidan in Rajshahi, now known as Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School ground. Apart from buses and trucks, the AL hired at least seven local trains. The trains, with a total of 10,306 seats, were hired for Tk 1,290,007, Ashim Kumar Talukhder, general manager of Bangladesh Railway (west zone), told The Daily Star yesterday.