Tarique launches election campaign from in-laws’ house

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday night (22 January) formally launched his election campaign with the party’s symbol, the Sheaf of Paddy, from his in-laws’ house in Birahimpur of South Surma in Sylhet.

In an emotional atmosphere, he inaugurated the formal campaign in the presence of thousands of people. Addressing the gathering, Tarique Rahman said, “Just as Dr Zubaida is your daughter, I am also your son. I have one request—that on the 12th, the Sheaf of Paddy emerges victorious from this area. I take this pledge from you.”

Earlier, he visited and offered prayers at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) and Hazrat Shah Paran (R). After the shrine visits, he went to his in-laws’ house.

At the beginning of his speech, Tarique Rahman sought prayers from local elders and residents.

“We do politics to change the destiny of the people. If the Sheaf of Paddy wins, we will introduce family cards for ordinary people and farmer cards to support farmers, in line with our promises,” he said.

Noting that many people from Sylhet live abroad, Tarique Rahman said, “We will establish modern training centres in every district so that our youths can become skilled and go overseas. If they work as skilled professionals with better salaries, remittances will increase and the country’s economy will grow.”

Announcing steps to ensure irrigation facilities for farmers, he said the historic canal excavation programme initiated by martyred President Ziaur Rahman would be revived.

“We will once again start canal excavation across the country to improve the livelihoods of farmers, which will bring revolutionary changes to our agricultural economy,” he said.

Referring to the political situation over the past decade and a half, the BNP chairman said, “For the last 16 years, people’s freedom of speech was taken away and they were deprived of their voting rights. We want to restore those rights. This election is about returning the key of power to the people.”