BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman formally launched his election campaign for the 13th National Parliamentary Election by visiting the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) and Hazrat Shah Paran (R) in Sylhet. He paid his respects at the two revered shrines on Wednesday night (January 21).Earlier that night, Tarique Rahman departed Dhaka and arrived in Sylhet at around 8:15 pm. According to party sources, he is leading a 14-member delegation to Sylhet as part of the BNP’s election campaign. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, is also accompanying him on the tour.Tarique Rahman and his entourage traveled from Dhaka to Sylhet on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight on Wednesday night.The delegation includes BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir; Yunus Ali, personal aide to the secretary general; standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan; Abdus Sattar, personal secretary to Tarique Rahman; Chief Security Officer AKM Shamsul Alam; Syed Moin Uddin Ahmed; BNP Media Cell member Atikur Rahman Rumon; Mia Nuruddin Apu; Saleh Shibli; Ahmed Ali; Kamal Uddin; and ANM Monowarul Karim.

Sources said Tarique Rahman is staying at the five-star Grand Sylhet Hotel and Resort, located near Osmani International Airport. At around 10:00 pm, he visited his in-laws’ residence in Biraimpur village under Silam Union of South Surma upazila in Sylhet, where he stayed for approximately one to one-and-a-half hours.

Tarique Rahman last visited his in-laws’ home in 2004. Accordingly, after a gap of 21 years, he was warmly received at Dr Zubaida Rahman’s parental home, where preparations had been made to welcome the family member.

Before visiting his in-laws’ house, Tarique Rahman paid homage at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) and Hazrat Shah Paran (R) on Wednesday night.

According to the schedule, on Thursday at 10:00 am, he will hold a meeting with young voters at his resort. At around 11:00 am, he will address a public rally at the Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground in the city’s Chowhatta area.

After the Sylhet rally, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to address election rallies in Sherpur under Moulvibazar Sadar upazila and in Shayestaganj upazila of Habiganj district.

On the very first day of his election campaign, Tarique Rahman will attend public rallies in seven districts, including Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, and Narayanganj.