Tarique to visit Bogra after 19 years

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to visit Bogra on Thursday after a gap of 19 years. His visit has generated strong enthusiasm among party leaders and activists, with a festive mood prevailing across the district.

Supporters are eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of him, while organizers expect a turnout of more than 1,00,000 people at his public rally.

BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan said Tarique Rahman will arrive in Rajshahi by air at around 12 noon on Thursday to attend an election rally at the historic Rajshahi Alia Madrasa ground. Later in the afternoon, he will address another public meeting in Naogaon.

After the Naogaon rally, the BNP chairman will head towards Bogra. He is scheduled to address wayside rallies in Dupchanchia and Kahalu en route.

At around 8pm, he will speak at a public rally at the historic Altafunnesa Playground in Bogra. Following the rally, he will stay overnight at Hotel Naz Garden in the city, which has been specially decorated ahead of his arrival.

Sources said that during his stay in Bogra, Tarique Rahman will visit Baitur Rahman Central Mosque, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Children’s Hospital in the Dattabari area of the city and the district BNP office.

In the morning on Friday, he will conduct door-to-door campaigning and address wayside rallies in his constituency, including Charmatha, Barpur and Sabgram areas of Bogra town.

On the same day, he will hold separate wayside rallies in the Bogra-7 (Gabtali–Shajahanpur) constituency. After concluding the rallies, he will visit his ancestral home at Bagbari in Gabtali before returning to the hotel for another overnight stay. On the morning of Saturday, he is scheduled to depart for Rangpur via the Dhaka–Rangpur highway.

Ghulam Mohammad Siraj, BNP-nominated parliamentary candidate for Bogra-5 and former convener of the district BNP, said: “Tarique Rahman’s visit to Bogra has created widespread enthusiasm among leaders and activists at all levels. We believe this visit will reflect the long-cherished hopes and aspirations of people who seek democracy.”

Sherpur upazila Chhatra Dal Convener Ahsan Habib Arman said: “Tarique Rahman’s presence will instil renewed courage and confidence among Chhatra Dal leaders and activists in Bogra.”

Tarique Rahman last visited Bogra on December 24, 2006. In the upcoming national parliamentary election, Tarique Rahman is contesting from the Bogra-6 (Sadar) constituency.