“Not Delhi, Not Pindi, Bangladesh First”: Tarique Rahman Kicks Off Election Campaign in Sylhet

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman launched his party’s official election campaign from Sylhet on Thursday, asserting a staunch nationalist stance. Addressing a massive gathering at the Government Alia Madrasa ground, he declared, “Not Delhi, not Pindi, but Bangladesh first.” He emphasized that the people are the ultimate source of power and pledged to build a self-reliant nation free from autocratic influence.

Rahman criticized the previous 16 years of governance, alleging massive corruption and the systematic stripping of citizens’ voting rights. He also brought up the sensitive issue of “enforced disappearances,” specifically mentioning M. Ilias Ali, which resonated deeply with the local crowd. Accompanied by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Rahman set off on a roadshow towards Dhaka, planning six more rallies across different districts to introduce BNP-backed candidates.