BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. -File photo

DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will begin his election campaign from Sylhet, the spiritual city of 360 Auliyas (Sufi saints), on January 22.  Sylhet district and Mohanagar BNP have undertaken extensive preparations regarding the Chairman’s visit. 

Since the founding of BNP, President Ziaur Rahman started his election campaign from Sylhet as a candidate, and Begum Khaleda Zia also started her election campaign from Sylhet in every election since 1991. In continuation of that tradition, Tarique Rahman is also going to begin his campaign with a visit to a shrine.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told the media, "BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is going to start his election campaign from Sylhet, the sacred land of Pirs and Auliyas.

On January 22, he will first pay his respects at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal (RA) in Sylhet city and then at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Paran (RA) in Kadimnagar. The Chairman's formal campaign will commence with this visit."

Kaiyum Chowdhury, President of Sylhet District BNP, said, "On January 22, Tarique Rahman will begin his election campaign from Sylhet. Here, he will first pay his respects at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal (RA.) in the city in the morning, and then at the shrine of Hazrat Shah Paran (RA.) in Kadim Nagar, about 8 kilometers from the city. Thereafter, at 11 am, he will deliver a speech at the first election rally on the grounds of Alia Madrasa."

"We have made extensive preparations for the rally on the occasion of the BNP Chairman's visit to Sylhet. Sylhet residents are eagerly waiting as Tarique Rahman is visiting Sylhet after almost two decades. First, it is his first visit as Chairman, and second, we, the residents of Sylhet, are eagerly waiting to welcome our dear relative," he added. 

Kaiyum Chowdhury said that after the Sylhet rally, Tarique Rahman will begin his election campaign tour along the Sylhet-Dhaka highway, adding that after Sylhet, he will address a rally in each electoral area along that highway.

BNP’s Sylhet leaders mentioned that Tarique Rahman last visited Sylhet in 2005 as the party's Senior Joint Secretary General to attend the party's union representative conference.