Friday, 30 January, 2026
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s campaign trail took an unexpectedly emotional turn on Tuesday when a teenage girl courageously stopped his motorcade on the road from Mymensingh to Gazipur, pleading for a moment to speak to him.
The encounter unfolded in the Seed Store area of Bhaluka, Mymensingh, as Tarique was travelling by bus after addressing a massive rally at the Mymensingh Circuit House ground. The rally was part of the third phase of his nationwide election campaign, a highly charged tour that has seen the BNP chief crisscross the country to mobilise support ahead of the February 12 polls.
The election campaign has intensified in recent weeks, with BNP leaders urging voters to reject what they describe as a government that has failed to deliver on economic stability, freedom of expression and fair governance. Tarique has framed the election as a decisive moment for Bangladesh, calling for unity and promising to “rebuild the nation” if the party wins.
Witnesses said the girl stepped forward from the roadside crowd and signalled for the motorcade to halt, insisting she needed to speak directly to the BNP chief.
The bus slowed, and Tarique, sensing the urgency in her voice, opened the door. What followed was a rare moment of personal connection amid a tense election campaign—an intimate conversation that reflected the hopes and aspirations of many young Bangladeshis.
“I want to do politics to serve people,” the teenager said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. “One day, I want to enter Parliament on my own merit and meet you there. Politics runs in my blood—I cannot stay away from it. Please pray for me.”
The girl told Tarique that she had watched him from afar at the rally but could not reach him among the sea of supporters. “Seeing you from a distance was not enough,” she said. “Meeting you has been a dream for a long time, so I came to your vehicle to speak to you.”
In a gesture that captured the emotional gravity of the moment, she handed Tarique a photograph of her political inspiration, former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Tarique received the photograph warmly, holding it carefully as if it were a sacred memento, and thanked her for her courage.
“May you achieve your dream,” he told her, offering a rare moment of encouragement amid the campaign’s fierce political tension.
The girl also greeted Tarique’s wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, who was present during the exchange. The brief meeting ended with the girl stepping back into the crowd, her eyes shining with renewed determination, while the motorcade resumed its journey toward Gazipur.
The incident became an unexpected highlight of the day’s campaign, illustrating how deeply politics resonates with Bangladesh’s youth and how personal stories can surface even amid large-scale rallies. As Tarique continued his nationwide election tour, the teenage girl’s dream of becoming an MP—spoken aloud on a roadside—served as a reminder of the human aspirations that underlie every political movement.
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BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s campaign trail took an unexpectedly emotional turn on Tuesday when a teenage girl courageously stopped his motorcade on the road from Mymensingh to Gazipur, pleading for a moment to speak to him.
The encounter unfolded in the Seed Store area of Bhaluka, Mymensingh, as Tarique was travelling by bus after addressing a massive rally at the Mymensingh Circuit House ground. The rally was part of the third phase of his nationwide election campaign, a highly charged tour that has seen the BNP chief crisscross the country to mobilise support ahead of the February 12 polls.
The election campaign has intensified in recent weeks, with BNP leaders urging voters to reject what they describe as a government that has failed to deliver on economic stability, freedom of expression and fair governance. Tarique has framed the election as a decisive moment for Bangladesh, calling for unity and promising to “rebuild the nation” if the party wins.
Witnesses said the girl stepped forward from the roadside crowd and signalled for the motorcade to halt, insisting she needed to speak directly to the BNP chief.
The bus slowed, and Tarique, sensing the urgency in her voice, opened the door. What followed was a rare moment of personal connection amid a tense election campaign—an intimate conversation that reflected the hopes and aspirations of many young Bangladeshis.
“I want to do politics to serve people,” the teenager said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. “One day, I want to enter Parliament on my own merit and meet you there. Politics runs in my blood—I cannot stay away from it. Please pray for me.”
The girl told Tarique that she had watched him from afar at the rally but could not reach him among the sea of supporters. “Seeing you from a distance was not enough,” she said. “Meeting you has been a dream for a long time, so I came to your vehicle to speak to you.”
In a gesture that captured the emotional gravity of the moment, she handed Tarique a photograph of her political inspiration, former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Tarique received the photograph warmly, holding it carefully as if it were a sacred memento, and thanked her for her courage.
“May you achieve your dream,” he told her, offering a rare moment of encouragement amid the campaign’s fierce political tension.
The girl also greeted Tarique’s wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, who was present during the exchange. The brief meeting ended with the girl stepping back into the crowd, her eyes shining with renewed determination, while the motorcade resumed its journey toward Gazipur.
The incident became an unexpected highlight of the day’s campaign, illustrating how deeply politics resonates with Bangladesh’s youth and how personal stories can surface even amid large-scale rallies. As Tarique continued his nationwide election tour, the teenage girl’s dream of becoming an MP—spoken aloud on a roadside—served as a reminder of the human aspirations that underlie every political movement.
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