Tarique Rahman in Bagerhat after 21 years, to offer prayers at Khan Jahan Ali's shrine

Tarique Rahman is coming to Bagerhat again after a long 21 years. On Thursday (5 November) he will visit the district as prime minister and chairman of the BNP. As part of the visit, the prime minister will offer prayers at the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (RA).

Ahead of his arrival, enthusiasm and a festive mood prevail in the district's political arena, with excitement in particular among leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations.

Tarique Rahman last visited Bagerhat in 2006, when he joined a Chhatra Dal grassroots representatives' conference at the Khan Jahan Ali College field. His mother, Begum Khaleda Zia, was the country's prime minister at the time.

To strengthen and energise the BNP's organisational activities at the grassroots, he made a series of organisational tours to different parts of the country at that time, and during the Bagerhat visit he also exchanged views with grassroots Chhatra Dal leaders and took part in organisational activities.

In the changed political circumstances that followed, Tarique Rahman went into a long life in exile. He returned to the country after the July 2024 mass uprising.

Within a short time of his return, his mother and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia died. In the subsequent national parliament election, the BNP won a single-party majority and formed the government.

Since taking office as prime minister, he has been making organisational and state visits to different districts, and Bagerhat is the latest in that sequence.

Ahead of the prime minister's arrival, leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations are making extensive preparations in Bagerhat town and across the district, with the district Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal and other organisations carrying his arrival message to the public through separate programmes.

The district Chhatra Dal is distributing leaflets and holding joy processions and campaigns, while Jubo Dal leaders are also welcoming the visit through joy processions and public outreach.

Former district Jubo Dal general secretary Sujan Molla said, “Twenty-one years ago we held the grassroots representatives' conference at the Khan Jahan Ali College field, and I had the chance to be very close to Tarique Rahman. He is coming to Bagerhat again after a long time, which is a matter of great joy for us. There is a special enthusiasm among Jubo Dal leaders and activists around his arrival.”

District council administrator Barrister Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain said, “Tarique Rahman is not only our prime minister, he is the guardian of our party. Leaders and activists at every level in Bagerhat are working unitedly around his arrival. I hope the whole of Bagerhat will turn into a sea of people for his arrival.”

District Chhatra Dal president Atikur Rahman Russell said, “Around Tarique Rahman's arrival, the Chhatra Dal is carrying out campaigns and organisational activities unitedly, as in the past. We are making all-out preparations to make his visit a success.” The unit's organising secretary Al Mamun said, “We are all working together in unity. I hope Bagerhat town will turn into a gathering of leaders, activists and ordinary people around the prime minister's arrival.”