Tarique Rahman back in Dhaka after wrapping up election campaign in seven-district

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka early Friday (January 23) after completing election campaign in seven districts ahead of the 13th national parliamentary polls.

Tarique Rahman launched his first day of campaigning on Thursday at noon with a rally at the Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground. He later addressed successive rallies in Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi and Narayanganj, concluding the final event shortly after dawn.

During the rallies, Rahman sought votes for BNP’s Sheaf of Paddy symbol candidates as well as for contenders backed by the party under seat-sharing arrangements with its allies.

Outlining key campaign pledges, the BNP chairperson said his party, if voted to power, would implement nationwide canal-digging programmes, introduce family and farmer cards, create employment through skills-based training for the unemployed, and provide honorariums for imams and muezzins.

According to the campaign schedule, Rahman addressed rallies at 3:00pm in Moulvibazar, 6:15pm in Habiganj, 10:30pm in Sarail of Brahmanbaria, and shortly after midnight in Bhairab, Kishoreganj. He reached Narsingdi’s municipal park area around 3:00am and delivered his final speech at 4:16am in Rupganj, Narayanganj.

At several late-night gatherings, Rahman expressed regret for keeping party leaders and supporters waiting until the early hours of the morning.

BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan said Rahman completed seven rallies in nearly 16 hours on the first day of campaigning and returned home at dawn. He added that large crowds were seen at the rallies held along the Sylhet-to-Dhaka route.

The BNP Media Cell also confirmed that Rahman is scheduled to address a campaign rally on Friday at the BRB ground in Bhashantek under the Dhaka-17 constituency.