Campaign Opens as Tarique Starts in Sylhet, Jamaat Heads North

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman paying respect at the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet on 21 January 2026.

As the official campaign for the upcoming national election begins on January 22, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is launching his campaign from Sylhet, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman is set to begin outreach in Dhaka before heading to northern districts.

This marks Tarique Rahman’s first trip outside Dhaka since his return to the country. During the visit, he is scheduled to address seven consecutive election rallies across several districts.

Tarique Rahman arrived in Sylhet late Wednesday night by air, accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and a 13-member party delegation that included BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan. After arrival, he paid respects at the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Paran (RA).

He is set to address his first rally at 11:30am today at the Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground. The party has made extensive preparations for the event, with banners, festoons and billboards across the city, alongside daily processions by party leaders and activists.

Following the Sylhet programme, Tarique Rahman will address rallies at Ainpur playground in Sherpur of Moulvibazar, Kuttapara playground in Sarail of Brahmanbaria, Bhairab Stadium in Kishoreganj, a municipal venue in Narsingdi, and Gausia in Rupganj of Araihazar upazila in Narayanganj.

Meanwhile, Jamaat announced a four-day election campaign roadmap, with Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman set to begin his activities from Dhaka-15 on Thursday. According to the schedule announced at a press conference at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, he will conduct door-to-door outreach and address a public rally in the constituency at 2:30pm.

Later in the day, he will travel to northern Bangladesh. On January 23, he will begin campaigning in Panchagarh at 11am before addressing rallies in Dinajpur and Thakurgaon, and staying overnight in Rangpur.

On January 24, Dr Shafiqur Rahman will start the day in Rangpur by paying respects at the grave of Shaheed Abu Saeed and meeting his family. He will then address rallies in Palashbari in Gaibandha, Bogura town, Sherpur, Sirajganj and Ullapara, before campaigning in Pabna in the evening.

Party sources said the Jamaat chief will conclude the tour on Saturday with a wayside meeting at Mokamtala in Shibganj, followed by a rally at the historic Altafunnessa playground in Bogura town. Further programmes are expected to be announced soon.