Barisal: The leader of the opposition and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is set to address an 18-party alliance rally in southern Barisal divisional city on Monday afternoon.

She has already reached Barisal city on Sunday night and stayed the night at the Barisal Circuit House.

Khaleda Zia will address a grand rally of the 18-party alliance at the Bell's Park in the city at 2:00 pm Monday where she is expected to announce a series of new anti-government agitation programmes. 

It is her second visit to the southern city as the opposition leader after the ninth parliamentary election on December 29, 2008.

Earlier she addressed a grand rally at the same venue on May 12, 2010.

Seven hundred gates have been erected and thousands of billboards, hoardings, and banners put up on the roadsides to greet Khaleda Zia in the Barisal divisional city.

Barisal City Corporation Mayor Showkat Hossain Hiron, also Barisal city Awami League convener, assured full cooperation for making the opposition's programme a success.

He, however, alerted party men against possible sabotage by the anti-liberation forces like Jamaat-Shibir.

Local leaders of the 18-party alliance in the division have intensified their party activities to make the programmes of the BNP chairperson a success.

Meetings and processions are being held in every wards, unions, upazilas as part of preparation to welcome the opposition leader to the city bringing more supporters to the rally ground in the afternoon.

Local leaders expect participation of a huge number of people at the grand rally.

Khaleda Zia will leave for Dhaka after the rally in the evening.

Ends/FK/AMA/19/11/2012