United News of Bangladesh

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman reached Rajshahi on Thursday to begin the fourth phase of his election campaign, launching a three-day tour in the northern region aimed at mobilising voters in favour of BNP and its alliance candidates. Tarique reached Rajshahi by air at 12:24pm, BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB. BNP local leaders said Tarique Rahman last visited Rajshahi in 2004 to attend a union representatives’ conference. Tarique set for three-day electioneering in northern districts After a gap of 22 years, Tarique Rahman has returned to Rajshahi. He is scheduled to address his first rally of the phase at Rajshahi Madrasa Ground at 2:00pm on Thursday. From the rally stage, the BNP chief will formally introduce 13 BNP parliamentary candidates from three districts. Later in the day, the BNP chairman will speak at two more election rallies — at Atim Field in Naogaon at 5:30pm and at Alfatunnesa Sports Ground in Bogura at 7:30pm, according to the party. As part of his three-day programme, Tarique Rahman will visit the grave of Shaheed Abu Sayed at Pirganj in Rangpur at 3:45pm on January 30. He will then address a large rally at Rangpur Eidgah Field at 4:30pm the same day. On January 31, Tarique is scheduled to speak at an election rally at the Sirajganj BSCIC Industrial Park at 2:00pm, followed by another roadside rally at Darun Charjana Bypass area on the Dhaka–Tangail highway at 4:00pm. During the tour, the BNP chairman will stay overnight for two days at Hotel Naz Garden in Bogura, party sources said. Naogaon gears up for Tarique’s first rally in nearly two decades Tarique Rahman launched his nationwide election campaign on January 22 from Sylhet. He later conducted campaign rallies in Chattogram on January 25 and Mymensingh on January 27. So far, he has addressed 16 election rallies across different regions of the country. Large crowds have been seen at most of the campaign venues, with supporters often waiting for hours to see and hear the BNP chairman. Due to the massive turnout, several rallies began three to five hours later than scheduled, with people remaining at the venues until late at night.