TDS Desk:

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will launch his election campaign on 22 January from Sylhet. “From Sylhet, the holy land of saints and spiritual leaders, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to begin his election campaign. On 22 January, he will first visit the shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal [RA] in Sylhet city and Hazrat Shah Paran [RA] in Khadimnagar. Through these shrine visits, the chairman’s formal election campaign will begin,” BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed made the announcement on Monday (12 January) while speaking to the media.

Since the founding of the BNP, Ziaur Rahman started his presidential election campaign from Sylhet, and Khaleda Zia also began all elections since 1991 from Sylhet.

Following that tradition, Tareque Rahman is set to start his campaign through shrine visits.

Meanwhile, the Sylhet district BNP and metropolitan BNP have taken extensive preparations ahead of Tareque Rahman’s visit to Sylhet.

District BNP President Qayyum Chowdhury said following the shrine visits, Tarique will address the first public rally of the election at the Alia Madrasah ground.

“We, the BNP, have taken extensive preparations to organise the rally on the occasion of the chairman’s visit to Sylhet. After nearly two decades, Tarique Rahman is coming to Sylhet, and the people of Sylhet are eagerly waiting. First, this is his first visit as chairman, and second, we, the people of Sylhet, are eagerly waiting to welcome our beloved relative.”

After finishing the public rally in Sylhet, Tarique Rahman will begin his election campaign along the Sylhet-Dhaka highway, Qayyum Chowdhury said, adding that after Sylhet, he will address one rally in each electoral area along the highway.

After Sylhet city, along the Sylhet-Dhaka highway, Tarique Rahman will address roadside rallies in Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi and Narayanganj districts.

Tarique Rahman will address a public rally for the first time as BNP chairman and present the party’s election pledges before the public.

The full schedule of the Sylhet visit has not yet been officially announced by the central leadership.

The election steering committee said the media will be informed in due course once the schedule is finalised.