Tarique wraps up second phase of campaign with six rallies in 14 hours

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday (25 January) completed the second phase of his election campaign by addressing six rallies in a span of around 14 hours, seeking votes for his party's candidates as well as alliance partners.

He spoke at the final rally at Narayanganj's Balurmath around 2:15am, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

Tarique returned to his Gulshan residence at around 3:10am on Monday after attending the hectic series of rallies in Chattogram, Feni, Cumilla and Narayanganj.

Tarique began the day with a big rally at Chattogram's Polo Ground around 12:30pm, followed by successive public meetings at Feni Pilot School ground, Chouddagram School ground, Soagazi Digbaji field, Daudkandi Eidgah ground and Narayanganj's Balurmath.

At the rallies, he urged voters to support BNP and its alliance candidates and outlined key plans his party intends to implement to 'rebuild the country' if elected to power.

Despite cold weather, thousands of BNP leaders, activists and supporters, including a significant number of women, gathered for hours to hear the chairman speak.

Tarique was seen coughing repeatedly during his speeches.

At Chouddagram School ground, he told the crowd that he had caught a cold and was feeling feverish. "So, I cannot speak loudly. Please listen quietly and attentively," he said.

Tarique flew to Chattogram on Saturday night and stayed overnight at a city hotel.

Earlier on Sunday, he took part in a Youth Policy Dialogue, engaging with students and answering questions on policy issues.

The first phase of his election campaign was launched on January 22 from Sylhet's Alia Madrasah ground, during which he addressed seven rallies in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi and Narayanganj.

Tarique is scheduled to virtually address a rally in Noakhali's Hatiya at 4:00pm on Monday, seeking votes for his party's candidate for Noakhali-6 Mahbubur Rahman Shamim.