Tarique set to launch election campaign with Sylhet tour, to address seven rallies on Thursday

Tarique to kick off election campaign with Sylhet tour, to address seven rallies on Thursday

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to formally launch his election campaign with a tour of Sylhet, where he will address seven rallies on Thursday, party leaders said.

Upon arriving in Sylhet, Tarique will visit the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) late at night and offer fateha, marking the beginning of his campaign in keeping with the BNP’s long-standing tradition, said BNP spokesman Shairul Kabir Khan Mahdi.

Mahdi, also an adviser to the BNP chairman, shared details of the tour programme at a press briefing at the party’s election office in Gulshan.

According to the schedule, Tarique Rahman will address his first election rally on Thursday morning at the Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground. At noon, he will attend a rally at Ainpur playground in Sherpur area of Moulvibazar Sadar upazila.

On the way, he will also join a rally at the proposed new Upazila Parishad ground in Shayestaganj upazila of Habiganj district. He will then proceed to Brahmanbaria to address a rally at Kuttapara Football Ground in Sarail upazila.

Later in the afternoon, the BNP chairman is scheduled to attend another rally at Bhairab Stadium in Kishoreganj. While returning to Dhaka, he will join a roadside rally in the Narsingdi municipal area, followed by a similar gathering at the Araihazar–Rupganj Gausia area in Narayanganj district. He is expected to return to his residence in Gusansthal late at night.

Mahdi said the party has already informed the district administrations and returning officers of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Narsingdi, Narayanganj and Dhaka through official letters, and that the respective police authorities and other agencies have also been notified in advance.

Since the formation of the BNP, its founder Ziaur Rahman began his presidential election campaign from Sylhet, while former prime minister and party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia launched all her election campaigns from the city starting in 1991. Continuing that tradition, Tarique Rahman will begin his campaign with shrine visits, party leaders said.

Sylhet BNP leaders noted that Tarique 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 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.

Election theme song

Mahdi said the BNP will unveil its official election theme song at the very start of the campaign. The song will be launched at 12:01am on January 22 at Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka, marking the formal commencement of the election campaign.

The theme song will be unveiled by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General and Member Secretary of the Central Election Steering Committee Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Chief Coordinator of the committee Ismail Zabiullah, other committee members and leaders from various party units are expected to attend.

Mahdi also said Tarique Rahman has decided to include senior leaders from different party wings and associate bodies as companions during his election tours, in recognition of their sacrifices and roles in the party’s 16-year-long anti-fascist movement and mass uprising.

During the Sylhet tour, Tarique will be accompanied by party leaders Abdul Qader Bhuiyan Jewel, Mamun Hasan, Abdul Monayem Munna, Kazi Rawnakul Islam Shrabon, Yasin Ferdous Murad and Rakibul Islam Rakib, along with several other young leaders. More leaders will be included in future tours in phases, he added.

Appeal to political parties

Describing the February 12 national parliamentary election as a crucial chapter for the country, Mahdi expressed hope that all political parties would conduct peaceful, fair and acceptable campaigns by exercising restraint, tolerance and coexistence.

He urged all parties to strictly follow the election code of conduct so that public expectations are reflected in the much-awaited election, saying collective responsibility and democratic practice are essential for setting a positive example.

Mahdi also recalled that Tarique had earlier planned visits to the northern region to offer fateha at the graves of July uprising martyrs, including Shaheed Abu Sayeed, as well as national leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and his maternal grandmother. However, large public gatherings formed around those plans, prompting the Election Commission to request restraint. Respecting the Commission’s request, the visits were cancelled to help maintain a proper election environment.

Replying to a question, Mahdi said Tarique Rahman would campaign in the Chattogram region after completing the Sylhet tour, with details to be announced later.

‘Undesirable activities’

Responding to another query, Mahdi termed the door-to-door collection of voter ID cards and bKash numbers by a particular political party as undesirable. He urged people to remain vigilant, stressing that such practices could undermine the level playing field.

“If violations of the election code of conduct occur in an organised manner, including misuse of postal ballots abroad or the collection of voter IDs and mobile payment numbers, they must be considered unacceptable,” he said.

Mahdi added that the BNP has instructed its leaders and activists to engage in positive politics by reaching out to ordinary voters, presenting the party’s plans and countering misinformation, while avoiding negative practices.

EC’s role

Reiterating BNP’s demand for a free, fair and credible election, Mahdi said the party firmly believes that if a level playing field is ensured and people’s voting rights are properly upheld, BNP will form the government with a popular mandate.

He urged the Election Commission to ensure strict enforcement of the election code of conduct, conduct a flawless poll and keep the election free from controversy. Mahdi said several BNP delegations have already met the Commission and called for a firm stance on these issues.