Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman will attend a grand rally in the port city on 25 January.

With this, the top BNP leader is going to visit Chattogram after a long hiatus of almost 21 years.

BNP Chattogram City, North and South district units are jointly organising the rally ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election at the historic Railway Polo-Ground.

Chattogram City BNP Convener and candidate for Chattogram-8 constituency Mohammad Ershad Ullah confirmed the matter on Sunday afternoon.

According to Ershad, Tarique will arrive in Chattogram on the evening of 24 January. He will attend the grand rally at 10:00am next day.

Senior BNP leaders believe that Tarique’s arrival will energise BNP leaders, activists and supporters in Chattogram.

Former city BNP convener and city mayor Shahadat Hossain expressed excitement about Tarique’s visit, saying, “This is the first time in over 15 years that Tarique Rahman will visit Chattogram.

“Party-men and supporters are extremely excited centring it. His visit will also reinvigorate both the common people,” said Shahadat.

City BNP Member Secretary Nazimur Rahman said that some one million people are expected to attend the grand rally at Polo-Ground on 25 January.

“After a long time, our chairman is coming to Chattogram. Beyond party leaders and activists, ordinary people will also participate spontaneously. There will be a massive turnout at the venue on that day,” he added.

Tarique last visited Chattogram on 6 May 2005, when he attended a rally supporting BNP’s mayoral candidate Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin.