Tarique Rahman heads to Ctg tomorrow after over 2 decades
He will arrive in the port city tomorrow night and attend seven political programmes the next day.
After more than two decades, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to visit Chattogram tomorrow (24 January), following his rallies in Sylhet as part of his party's campaign for the upcoming national election.
He will arrive in the port city tomorrow night and attend seven political programmes the next day, BNP Media Cell Member Shairul Kabir Khan confirmed to The Business Standard.
According to his itinerary, Tarique will begin his Chattogram campaign by attending a policy dialogue with young people at the Radisson Blu Hotel at 9:30am.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Later at 11am, he will address a rally at the Polo Ground. He will then move on to rallies at Feni Pilot College ground, Chauddagram in Cumilla, Suagazi in Cumilla, Daudkandi in Cumilla, and Kanchpur Balur Math in Narayanganj.
BNP leaders and activists, along with those of its affiliated organisations, are making extensive preparations for the party chief's visit. Party leaders and activists are working with the target of breaking all past attendance records and setting a new one.
Leaders and activists from Chattogram, the Chattogram Hill Tracts and Cox's Bazar are expected to join the rally.
Meanwhile, BNP has launched extensive publicity campaigns around the party chief's visit after a long gap. BNP, its affiliated organisations and election candidates from various constituencies are making announcements using loudspeakers and preparing for maximum turnout.
Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Shahadat Hossain said BNP's own security unit, the Chairman Security Force (CSF), is scheduled to arrive in Chattogram today.
"All preparations, including the stage setup, will be completed by Saturday," he added.
Tarique launched his election campaign yesterday. He completed seven rallies in a marathon 16-hour stretch before returning to Dhaka late at night.
His first rally took place at 12:30pm at the Alia Madrasa ground in Sylhet.
He then spoke at rallies in Sherpur's Ainpur playground in Moulvibazar, Shayestaganj upazila ground in Habiganj, Kuttapara playground in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria, Bhairab Stadium in Kishoreganj, Narsingdi municipal area, and Gausia in Rupganj of Araihazar upazila in Narayanganj.
According to party sources, the last time a BNP chief spoke at a rally on the Polo Ground in Chattogram was on 9 January 2012, when late BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia spoke there. Nearly 14 years later, Khaleda Zia's son, Tarique Rahman, is set to address a rally at the same venue as party chief.
He last visited Chattogram on 6 May 2005 as BNP senior joint secretary general, when he addressed a gathering seeking votes for BNP mayoral candidate Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin.
Following Khaleda Zia's death late last year, the party declared Tarique Rahman as its chairman on 9 January this year. As a result, this will be his first visit to Chattogram as party chief.
