BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman arrived in Sylhet on Wednesday night to formally launch his party’s election campaign for the 13th national parliamentary election, with plans to address seven rallies across six districts on Thursday.
“BNP Chairman, along with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 7:20pm by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and reached Osmani International Airport at about 8:04pm,” said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
Tarique Rahman will begin his campaign in Sylhet, widely known as the land of saints, and address rallies highlighting the party’s election pledges, political priorities, plans to restore democracy, ensure good governance, and address citizens’ day-to-day concerns.
Party sources said Tarique is expected to visit his father-in-law’s residence, popularly known as ‘Minister Bari’, in Biraimpur village under Silam Union of South Surma upazila on Wednesday night. He will also offer fateha at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) after reaching Sylhet.
Following the shrine visits, Tarique will go to the ancestral home of his wife, Zubaida Rahman, to offer fateha at the graves of her deceased family members. A milad mahfil will be held in memory of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Zubaida Rahman’s departed family members. Special food, ‘shirni’, will be served to Tarique, party leaders, activists, and local residents.
Earlier, BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson Dr Mahdi Amin said the campaign will formally begin on Thursday, starting with Tarique’s visit to Sylhet. Speaking at a press briefing in the party’s Gulshan election office, Mahdi shared the chairman’s detailed tour schedule:
Morning: First rally at Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground
Noon: Rally at Ainpur playground, Sherpur, Moulvibazar Sadar upazila
En route: Rally at the proposed Upazila Parishad ground in Shayestaganj upazila, Habiganj
Afternoon: Rally at Sarail upazila, Brahmanbaria, followed by another at Bhairab Stadium, Kishoreganj
Evening: Roadside rallies in Narsingdi municipal area and Araihazar-Rupganj Gausia area, Narayanganj
Tarique is expected to return to his Gulshan residence late Thursday night. Party leaders said administrations and returning officers of the concerned districts have been informed, and police and other authorities have been notified to ensure smooth conduct of rallies.
Following tradition, BNP leaders noted that the party’s founder, Ziaur Rahman, began his presidential campaigns from Sylhet, and Begum Khaleda Zia launched all her election campaigns there since 1991. Tarique Rahman will continue the tradition with shrine visits and public rallies.
Sylhet BNP leaders said Tarique last visited the city in 2005 to attend a BNP union representatives’ conference as senior joint secretary general. After spending 17 years in exile in the UK, he returned to Bangladesh with his family on December 25. A few days later, on December 30, his mother and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia passed away while receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital.