This photo taken on November 11, 2022 shows a part of the leaders and activists of the Awami Juba League who gather at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka to join the grand youth rally marking the organisation’s golden jubilee. – Sony Ramany.

Thousands of Awami Juba League leaders and activists from different districts of Bangladesh gathered at capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan since Friday morning to join the grand youth rally marking the organisation’s golden jubilee.

The annual conference of the youth front of the ruling Awami is scheduled to start at 2:30 pm, Juba League chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash said.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the president of Awami League, will address the rally as the chief guest.

The city is bracing for traffic jams as slogan-chanting activists marched towards the rally venue in processions and on vehicles.

Dhaka University’s TSC, Mall Chattar, VC Chattar, Shahbagh, Doel Chattar, Suhrwardi Udyan and its surrounding areas were filled with processions. Leaders and activists from across the country have come to join the rally wearing t-shirts made especially for the occasion.

Some joined with a fleet of reserve buses, pickups, motorcycles while many were seen joining the rally on foot.

Juba League activist Faruk Hasan Zamir, from Lohagara, said, ‘I arrived at night, and then stayed in the car at the premises of Haji Mohamamd Mohsin Hall of Dhaka University last night. I am happy to see such a big gathering and so many people here at the conference.’

Juba League activists from the different areas of Dhaka city and surrounding areas were also coming with processions by buses and trucks with full enthusiasm.

The conference area has been decorated with colourful placards, organisational flags, banners and the national flags of Bangladesh.

All the gates except the VIP gate of Suhrawardy Udyan have been opened for the crowds to enter the grounds. Members from law enforcement agencies have been seen to take positions at various junctions to deal with any kind of unpleasant situation.

Convener of Manikganj Juba League Abdur Razzak Raja said,’We hope that through this conference we will give a strong response to all the evil forces. The Jubo League will promise from this conference to strengthen Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s hand ahead of the upcoming national elections.’