Following his historic return to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to embark on a massive nationwide tour starting next week. The tour is aimed at consolidating public support and presenting the party’s electoral vision ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary elections.
According to the party’s primary plan, the tour will span all 10 divisions, beginning in the northern region of Rangpur and concluding in Dhaka.
Key Highlights of the Tour Schedule
While the final itinerary is being fine-tuned, several key dates and locations have been confirmed by party sources:
- January 11: Tarique Rahman will depart from Dhaka, traveling through Tangail and Sirajganj to reach Bogra, his home district.
- January 12: He will attend a mass prayer (Doa Mahfil) at Bogra’s Altafunnessa Playground to seek eternal peace for the soul of his mother and former Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia. Later that day, he will head to Rangpur, visiting the shrine of Hazrat Shah Sultan Mahmud Balkhi Mahí Sawar (Rh.) in Mahasthan on the way.
- January 13: The tour will continue through Panchagarh, Nilphamari, and Lalmonirhat.
- January 14: He will return to Dhaka from Rangpur via Bogra.
- January 18 & 20: Plans are also in place for visits to Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet, where he is expected to visit the graves of July Revolution martyrs, including student leader Wasim Akram in Cox’s Bazar and Abu Sayed in Rangpur.
Adhering to Election Code of Conduct
The tour comes at a sensitive time as the Election Commission (EC) is scheduled to allot symbols on January 21. Formal election campaigning is restricted before January 22.
To remain compliant with the Code of Conduct, the BNP has clarified that Tarique Rahman will not hold major public rallies during this phase. Instead, he will participate in roadside meetings (pathasabha), distribute electoral leaflets, and hold views-exchange meetings with grassroots leaders and the families of those martyred in the July uprising.
Enthusiasm Among Grassroots
The announcement of the tour has sparked significant energy among BNP activists. Rezaul Karim Badsha, President of the Bogra District BNP, noted that while the party remains in mourning over the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia, the visit of the Acting Chairman has created “immense excitement among the common people.”
Tarique Rahman, who returned to the country on December 25, is contesting the upcoming election from the Bogra-6 and Dhaka-17 constituencies. This tour is seen as a strategic move to re-establish his direct connection with the voters and frame the BNP’s “31-point” reform agenda as the centerpiece of their campaign.
