Tarique Rahman is set to launch the BNP’s election campaign from Sylhet on 22 January 2026, beginning with visits to the shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal and Shahporan, as Bangladesh heads toward national polls on 12 February 2026. The choice of Sylhet and the shrine visits are deeply symbolic, signalling unity, tradition, and a respectful opening tone at the start of a fast moving, tightly regulated campaign period.
This launch also matters because it comes at a major transition point for the BNP, with Tarique Rahman stepping into the spotlight as party chairman and aiming to project discipline, organisation, and national reach. With nominations, election rules, and a wider reform debate shaping the political atmosphere, the Sylhet kickoff is designed to set the narrative early and show voters that the BNP is ready to contest for power across the country.
What The Sylhet Launch Signals For The BNP
When a major political figure chooses a place to begin a national campaign, the location is rarely random. According to reporting in The Business Standard, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to formally begin his election campaign in Sylhet on January 22, 2026, starting with visits to the shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal and Shahporan.
This matters for three reasons.
First, Sylhet is a symbolic launchpad. It blends religion, heritage, and identity in a way that can unify different parts of a party’s support base. A shrine visit is not just a photo opportunity. In Bangladeshi politics, it signals humility, tradition, and continuity. It can also create a calm, respectful tone before a campaign becomes noisy and combative.
Second, the timing is tightly connected to the official election rules. Bangladesh’s Election Commission has reminded parties that campaigning should not happen before symbol allocation, and that the code of conduct must be followed. That makes January 22 a meaningful date in itself, because it lines up with the formal campaign window being opened.
Third, it is a clear message of visibility and momentum. After years of political turbulence, the BNP wants to look organised, disciplined, and ready to compete everywhere, not just in familiar strongholds.
In the same report, BNP Media Cell Convener Professor Dr Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel said Tarique Rahman would begin by paying homage at the shrines, and Tarique himself told editors and senior journalists that BNP would go “to every person” to seek support. In plain terms, the party is signalling a ground campaign, not a campaign that lives only on rallies, slogans, or social media clips.
Tarique Rahman And The Leadership Moment Inside BNP
This campaign launch comes during a major leadership transition.
Tarique Rahman formally assumed office as BNP chairman on January 9, 2026, after the position became vacant following the death of BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Reuters reported Khaleda Zia died on December 30, 2025, marking the end of an era in Bangladeshi politics. AP also reported her death at age 80 and noted the decades long rivalry that defined national politics.
That context changes how voters and rivals interpret every campaign decision.
A new party chair does not just need votes. He needs internal unity, message discipline, and candidates who do not embarrass the party with infighting. A “first stop” campaign moment becomes a leadership test: can he set a tone that party leaders will follow, and can he keep attention on policy and the future rather than only on the past?
There is also the practical reality of election logistics. This is not a slow, months long campaign. Bangladesh is moving through formal steps at high speed: nominations, scrutiny, appeals, symbol allocation, and then the campaign window.
bdnews24 reported heavy activity around nomination disputes and appeals, including large numbers of rejected nominations and an active appeals process at the Election Commission. That matters because the quality of candidates on the ballot can shape voter trust. If a party’s strongest local figures fail to clear procedural hurdles, a national leader’s campaign tour may be forced into damage control.
So Tarique Rahman’s Sylhet launch is not only a symbolic opening. It is also a management move. It projects “we are ready”, while behind the scenes the party must ensure candidates, messaging, and compliance are aligned.
Why Sylhet Is A Strategic Battleground
Sylhet is not just another division on the map. It is one of the most politically meaningful regions in Bangladesh for a few reasons that are easy to overlook if you only follow Dhaka centred headlines.
A region with cultural and spiritual weight
Starting at the shrines of Shah Jalal and Shahporan ties the campaign to a place that carries deep spiritual and historical meaning for many citizens. That can broaden appeal beyond hardcore party supporters and create a “national mood” moment.
Multiple outlets have reported the plan to begin with these shrine visits on January 22. The repetition across sources suggests this is a deliberate, carefully chosen campaign staging.
A region with strong diaspora connections
Sylhet has long standing diaspora links, especially to the United Kingdom. For politics, that matters in two ways: remittances shape household economics, and diaspora networks shape narrative. Even when overseas communities cannot vote from abroad, their influence travels through family discussions, community leadership, and online spaces.
That makes Sylhet valuable for a campaign that wants to frame itself as competent on the economy and credible on global relationships.
A region that can set the campaign tone
Campaign launches often aim to dominate the news cycle for several days. A Sylhet start can generate a “soft opening” image: respectful, calm, and organised. If the BNP wants to look like a government in waiting, not a protest movement, it helps to begin with symbolism and message discipline before escalating into mass rallies.
The Election Timeline And Rules That Shape The Campaign
To understand why this Sylhet move matters, you have to understand the calendar and the guardrails.
Bangladesh’s Election Commission announced that the 13th national election will be held on February 12, 2026, with voting hours stated in the official schedule announcement reported by BSS. Reuters also reported the Election Commission was due to announce the election timetable in a national broadcast and that the poll was expected in February, in the context of the post 2024 political transition.
There is also a major additional element: the same day includes a referendum on the July Charter, according to BSS and Reuters reporting around the election announcement. That creates a more complex national conversation. Voters are not only thinking about parties and MPs. They are also thinking about reforms and the direction of the state.
Why the January 22 campaign start is not just theatre
Dhaka Tribune reported the Election Commission asked parties and candidates not to conduct electoral campaigns before symbol allocation, and reminded everyone that campaigning must end before polling as required by the code of conduct.
That means January 22 functions as a compliance friendly “green light” moment. Launching in Sylhet on that date lets the BNP appear both energetic and rule respecting.
The nomination and appeals drama in the background
Elections are not only rallies. They are paperwork, court style processes, and administrative decisions that can change the battlefield.
bdnews24 reported that returning officers rejected a significant number of nominations during scrutiny, with appeals continuing at the Election Commission. Even if a national leader runs a strong campaign, messy candidate disputes can damage credibility at the local level. That is why early campaign messaging often includes themes like fairness, law, and order, and “restoring trust” in institutions.
A high intensity political environment
Reuters’ broader reporting on Bangladesh’s post 2024 transition highlights a politically sensitive environment, including party bans, reform debates, and a new election roadmap. In a setting like this, one wrong headline can dominate the week. That is another reason a shrine centred launch is a safer opening: it reduces the risk of immediate confrontation imagery.
The Campaign Messages Voters Are Likely To Hear
Based on the reported plan and the political context, here are the core message lanes this campaign launch is likely designed to support.
1) A unity and continuity message after Khaleda Zia
Khaleda Zia’s death is not just personal grief for supporters. It is a political turning point. Reuters described her as a dominant political figure whose rivalry with Sheikh Hasina shaped the country for decades.
That creates a challenge and an opportunity for Tarique Rahman. The challenge is comparison: can he fill that space? The opportunity is renewal: a new leader can re frame the party as forward looking, less locked into old battles.
Expect language about legacy, sacrifice, and service, but also language that signals “we are moving into a new phase”.
2) A voter contact message instead of a rally only campaign
The Business Standard reported Tarique Rahman saying BNP will go to every person to seek support.
That matters because Bangladesh elections can sometimes look dominated by big events and loud slogans. A promise of door to door persuasion tries to sound modern, democratic, and people centred.
If the BNP can make that real with volunteer networks, local coordination, and disciplined messaging, it can convert this line into credibility.
3) Law and order, fairness, and credible institutions
When an election includes high volumes of nomination disputes and appeals, voters start worrying about process legitimacy. bdnews24’s reporting on nominations and appeals illustrates how central administration becomes to election narratives.
Expect BNP messaging to stress rules, equal treatment, and a clean contest. Even if voters do not follow the technical steps, they understand fairness at an instinctive level.
4) Reform and referendum positioning
Because February 12 also includes a referendum on the July Charter, political parties must decide how to communicate about reform.
A smart campaign will avoid getting trapped in vague slogans. Voters will ask simple questions:
- Will this reform reduce corruption or just change the names at the top?
- Will it protect ordinary people from abuse of power?
- Will it create stability so jobs and prices improve?
Whoever answers those questions clearly will have an advantage.
5) Economy, jobs, and cost of living pressure
Even when politics is heated, most households vote with daily life in mind. Campaigns that connect national reforms to household concerns can earn broader support.
Sylhet is a powerful place to deliver these messages because of remittance linked household economies and the region’s business networks. A launch there signals the party understands both tradition and practical economics.
Risks And Flashpoints In A High Stakes Season
If you are trying to understand what could shape this election narrative, watch these risk areas.
Campaign code violations and enforcement
If the Election Commission is publicly warning parties not to campaign before symbol allocation, it suggests officials are concerned about early violations.
Watch whether enforcement is consistent across parties and regions. Uneven enforcement becomes a political story quickly.
Candidate disputes and local fragmentation
Nomination disputes do not just create court or commission drama. They create angry local supporters, broken alliances, and protest risks. bdnews24’s reporting shows the appeals process is active and substantial.
If major local figures feel wronged, they may run as independents, sabotage campaigns quietly, or split votes. National leaders often underestimate this.
Security, intimidation narratives, and misinformation
In a tense election season, misinformation spreads fast. A small incident can be exaggerated, clipped, and weaponised online.
If the BNP wants to look like a government in waiting, it must avoid emotional traps and over claims. Calm documentation and clear, verifiable statements win credibility over time.
Managing expectations around leadership change
Tarique Rahman’s rise to party chair is recent, and it follows a major personal and national political moment.
Opponents will test him with pressure: tough questions, criticism of past controversies, and attempts to provoke reactive statements. A disciplined campaign avoids giving opponents free headlines.
What Happens Next And What To Watch After Sylhet
Here is the most practical way to track what this Sylhet launch means.
Watch the route, not just the first stop
A campaign launch is one day. The real signal is where he goes next.
If the tour quickly moves into competitive constituencies, it suggests a data driven strategy. If it stays mostly in friendly zones, it suggests the party is prioritising morale and optics over persuasion.
Watch how BNP speaks about election rules
The strongest credibility builder in a sensitive environment is consistent respect for rules. The Election Commission has made its position clear on campaign timing.
If the BNP repeatedly aligns public messaging with these rules, it strengthens the party’s claim that it wants a fair contest.
Watch how the referendum debate is framed
The July Charter referendum on the same day as the election can either distract voters or become a unifying reform story.
If parties explain reforms in practical terms, the public debate could rise in quality. If they only use vague slogans, misinformation will fill the vacuum.
Watch turnout signals
Turnout is often the hidden story. It reflects belief that voting matters. It reflects trust that results will be meaningful. And it can reshape the interpretation of victory.
Watch the Sylhet message for diaspora audiences
Even when elections are domestic, political messaging travels. Sylhet’s diaspora connections mean this launch will be discussed widely abroad, especially among UK Bangladeshis.
If the BNP’s message is calm and future focused, it may help the party build soft support internationally. If it becomes inflammatory, it can create avoidable backlash.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and reflects publicly reported information and analysis. It does not endorse any political party or candidate.