BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman arrived in Sylhet on Wednesday night to formally kick off his party’s election campaign for the 13th national parliamentary election, with plans to address seven rallies on Thursday.
“BNP Chairman, along with his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for Sylhet by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight around 7:20pm and reached Osmani International Airport, Sylhet at around 8:04pm,” said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
Sayrul said Tarique will begin his election campaign from Sylhet, widely known as the land of saints, and address seven public rallies across six districts.
During the rallies, he said the BNP chairman is expected to outline his party’s election pledges, political priorities and plans to restore democracy, ensure good governance and address people’s day-to-day problems.
Party leaders and activists have completed all preparations to ensure the smooth holding of the rallies and electioneering programmes.
According to party sources, Tarique is likely to visit his father-in-law’s residence, popularly known as ‘Minister Bari’, at Biraimpur village under Silam Union of South Surma upazila in Sylhet on Wednesday night.
They said the BNP chief is also expected to 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 and offer fateha at the graves of her deceased family members. A milad mahfil will also be held there in memory of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the departed members of Zubaida Rahman’s family.
After the milad, special food ‘shirni’ will be served among Tarique, his entourage, party leaders and activists, and local residents.
Earlier in the day, BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson Dr Mahdi Amin said the election campaign will formally begin on Thursday as per the announced schedule, with Tarique launching it through his Sylhet visit.
After reaching Sylhet, he said, the BNP Chairman will visit the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) at night and offer fateha, marking the start of the election campaign in line with the party’s long-standing tradition.
Mahdi, also an adviser to the BNP Chairman, shared the detailed tour programmes at a press briefing at the party’s election office in the Gulshan area.
On Thursday morning, he said, Tarique will address his first election rally at the Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground.
Later in the day, he will attend a rally at Ainpur playground in Sherpur area of Moulvibazar Sadar upazila at noon.
On the way, Mahdi said, Tarique will also join a rally at the proposed new Upazila Parishad ground in Shayestaganj upazila of Habiganj district.
The BNP Chairman will then proceed to Brahmanbaria, where he is scheduled to address a rally at Kuttapara Football Ground in Sarail upazila.
In the afternoon, he will attend another election rally at Bhairab Stadium in Kishoreganj.
On his way back to Dhaka, Mahdi said, Tarique Rahman will join a roadside election rally in the Narsingdi municipal area before attending a similar gathering at the Araihazar–Rupganj Gausia area in Narayanganj district.
He is expected to return to his Gulshan residence at late at night Thursday.
Mahdi said the party has already informed the concerned district administrations and returning officers of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Narsingdi, Narayanganj and Dhaka through official letters. The respective police departments and other authorities have also been notified.
Since the formation of BNP, party founder Ziaur Rahman began his presidential election campaign from Sylhet, while Begum Khaleda Zia also launched all her election campaigns from the city starting in 1991. Following that tradition, Tarique Rahman will begin his campaign with shrine visits, party leaders said.
Sylhet BNP leaders said Tarique Rahman last visited the city in 2005, when he attended a BNP union representatives’ conference as the party’s senior joint secretary general.
After spending 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom, Tarique Rahman returned home with his family on December 25. A few days later, on December 30, his mother and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia passed away while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital.