Tarique Rahman embarks on 17-district election tour Thursday, starts with Sylhet

Ahead of the 13th national parliamentary elections, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to embark on a multi-district tour, beginning with Sylhet on 22 January. Party sources confirmed that visits to 17 districts have been finalised for the first phase, during which Tarique Rahman will address processions and public rallies across the country.

According to the Election Commission schedule, symbols for the parliamentary election will be allocated on 21 January, followed by the official campaign launch on 22 January. Since the founding of the BNP, Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia have traditionally launched their parliamentary election campaigns from Sylhet. Tarique Rahman's campaign will follow the same continuity. 

After arriving in Sylhet by plane on the night of 21 January, Tarique Rahman will visit the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) and Hazrat Shah Paran (R) the next day before attending a mass rally at the Alia Madrasa field in Chouhatta at 11am. He will later address separate gatherings in Moulvibazar and Habiganj, and en route back, he is scheduled to speak at processions in Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, and Narayanganj.

BNP leaders are taking extensive measures to ensure a successful turnout in Sylhet, aiming to gather over a lakh attendee for the first rally. Banners, festoons, and billboards have already adorned the city, while party and affiliate groups are holding marches and local preparatory meetings from urban centres to rural areas. The Alia Madrasa field has been prepared, with stage construction ongoing, and security arrangements are in place under Sylhet Metropolitan Police supervision. City Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury met with local BNP leaders to review safety protocols.

Ariful Haque Chowdhury, BNP adviser and candidate for Sylhet-4, expressed confidence that Sylhet residents will participate spontaneously. Sylhet BNP President Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury said the city has been chosen as the party's first election campaign centre and that organisers are targeting at least 300,000 attendees. Sylhet BNP member Faisal Ahmed Chowdhury said that party supporters and ordinary citizens are eagerly awaiting the return of their leader after a long absence.

Following the Sylhet tour, Tarique Rahman will visit Chattogram on 24 January, addressing a public rally at Polo Ground on 25 January before touring Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, and Cumilla en route back to Dhaka. On 26 January, he will travel to Barishal, addressing a rally at Bells Park and meeting with party leaders from across the division before returning to Dhaka via Madaripur, Bhanga, and Munshiganj.

Barishal BNP's Organising Secretary Bilkis Jahan Shirin said full preparations have been made for the rally, with leaders from Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna, Jhalokathi, and Pirojpur expected to attend. She added that nearly 20 years after his last visit, Tarique Rahman's return to Barishal has generated unprecedented enthusiasm, with supporters ready to make history during his campaign.