BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has returned to the country after a long period of one and a half decades. Along with party leaders and activists, the common people also have endless expectations centered on him. They believe that with his help, there will be a radical change in politics. The state system will change. The lives and fate of the common people will change. From this belief, the excitement of Tarique Rahman's return to the country spread across the country.
However, in Bogura, that joy seems to have touched the sky. The feelings of the people in Bogura is deeper than in any other district of the country, because, Bogura is the birthplace of BNP founder martyr President Ziaur Rahman. The return of that father's successor Tarique Rahman to his homeland is not only brought joy in the eyes of the people of Bogura, but also a light of hope in their hearts. The entire people of Bogura are waiting for the wounds of deprivation, stalled development and neglect of the last 17 years to be erased.
Tarique Rahman transformed Bogura into an organizational model district by bringing back the secret ballot leadership election system in BNP. Meanwhile, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is going to visit Bogura on Sunday (January 11) after a long 19 years. This is going to be his first visit outside Dhaka. For him, his own office is being built in the district BNP office. A state-of-the-art design has been made there by the chief engineer of a renowned private organization in Bogura.
Alhaj Mosharraf Hossain, acting general secretary of Bogura District BNP, said, “He will stay overnight after reaching Bogura on January 11. The next day on January 12 (Monday) at 10 am, he is scheduled to participate in the mass prayer organized for the forgiveness of the soul of his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. After the mass prayer, Tarique Rahman will go to the shrine of Hazrat Shah Sultan Balkhi Mahi Sawar (R.H.) in Mahasthan through Satmatha, Tinmatha and Matidali in the city. After visiting the shrine there, he will leave for Rangpur.
He said, “Tarique Rahman last came to Bogura on December 24, 2006. After a long 19 years and 18 days, he will set foot on Bogura soil again. There has been great enthusiasm and excitement among the leaders and activists and supporters centered on his arrival. Everyone is waiting to see him here.”
Bogura residents say that there has been no visible development in Bogura for the last 17 years due to political vendetta. Many have not found jobs even after completing their education. They remain unemployed. While residents of other districts have found jobs, residents of Bogura have not found it. No visible development has been done. Many things have been left out just by hearing the name of Bogura. This time, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman is coming to take stock of the development of deprived Bogura.”
Golam Mohammad Siraj, former convener of Bogura district BNP and BNP-nominated MP candidate for Bogura-5 (Sherpur-Dhunat) constituency said, “Tarique Rahman made his political debut from Gabtoli Upazila, a remote village in Bogura, the birthplace of his father, BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. Initially, he was a member of Gabtoli Thana BNP, but later he was made a member of the district committee. Tarique Rahman transformed Bogura into an organizational model district by bringing back the secret ballot leadership election system in the party. Along with organizing the party, he also started working for the country. He accelerated the July Movement from a thousand miles away.”
When BNP was in power, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital were established in Bogura for health services. Tarique Rahman has worked on various developments on his own initiative, including the expansion of the Banani-Matidali road through Bogura city, the construction of the Bogura Banani and Sub-Gram bypass roads, the provision of government gas supply to the pipeline in Bogura city, and the expansion of the Bogura Municipality into 21 wards on the model of a city corporation.
In addition, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman built a beautiful park for walking at the junction of three triangular roads of the Road Department in the Shakpala area of Bogura suburb. But the park fell into negligence in the last 17 years due to the political vendetta of the Awami League. The people of Bogura expect that Tarique Rahman will rebuild the park built by Tarique Rahman as before.
The 20-bed hospital dreamed of by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in the rural areas of Bogura has not seen the light of day in 17 years. This hospital was kept silent. The foundation stone was laid in Kagail of Gabtoli Upazila of Bogura on October 5, 2006, but it was not implemented later during the Awami League government.
BNP-nominated MP candidate for Bogura-1 (Sariakandi-Sonatala) constituency, Kazi Rafiqul Islam, said, “BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has planned to repair the state even from abroad. He is constantly talking about repairing the state in different circles in a new way and in a new mechanism. We hope that if the people vote in our favor, Tarique Rahman will definitely implement developmental activities for the welfare of the people of Bogura and the country.”
Bogura District BNP President Rezaul Karim Badsha said the news of Tarique Rahman's arrival in Bogura is very happy for us. There has been no development in Bogura for 17 years. Now Bogura will develop under his leadership. Tarique Rahman loves the people of Bogura. He will give several development gifts to the people of the district.
Habibur Rahman, chief engineer of a non-governmental development organization in Bogura, said, "I was instructed by District BNP president and former mayor Rezaul Karim Badsha to build a state-of-the-art designed office for BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman at the Nababbari party office in Bogura city. As per his instructions, I have created a design. The work of building the office according to the design is almost complete."
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
