Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman is set to formally launch his election campaign from Sylhet today, with plans to address seven consecutive public rallies in a single day.
BNP election steering committee spokesperson Mahadi Amin on Wednesday made the announcement at a media briefing at the party’s Gulshan office in the city.
Tarique arrived in Sylhet by air minutes after 8:00pm on Wednesday. He offered prayers at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) at about 9:00pm.
The BNP chief then offered prayers at the grave of MAG Osmani, who led the War of Independence in 1971 as the commander-in-chief of the Bangladesh forces, in the divisional city.
On Thursday morning, he would address his first election rally at the Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground, said Mahadi.
Following the Sylhet rally, Tarique is scheduled to speak at a series of meetings across several districts.
These include Sherpur’s Ainpur playground in Moulvibazar, the proposed upazila parishad ground at Shayestaganj in Habiganj, Kutthapara playground of Sarail upazila in Brahmanbaria, Bhairab Stadium in Kishoreganj, a municipal-area venue in Narsingdi, and Gawsia of Rupganj under Araihazar upazila in Narayanganj.
Mahadi Amin said that the BNP chairman would return to his Gulshan home late at night after completing the rallies.
He also confirmed that, following the Sylhet programme, Tarique Rahman’s next campaign visit would be to Chattogram, with details to be announced later.
Responding to questions from journalists, Mahadi warned against the collection of voter identity cards and mobile financial service numbers by a particular party through door-to-door visits, calling such practices undesirable and urging voters to remain vigilant.
He said that any organised attempt, at home or abroad, to influence postal ballots or gather personal voter information would undermine a level playing field.
The BNP, on the other hand, officially marked the start of the party’s electioneering one minute past January 21 midnight. BNP senior joint secretary general and member secretary of the party’s central election steering committee Ruhul Kabir Rizvi launched the campaign’s theme song at a hotel in the capital.
