Dhaka, Jan. 4 -- Tarique Rahman will be appointed the chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in "a day or two", senior leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said.

Speaking in Sylhet on Sunday, Fakhrul said the position of chairperson Khaleda Zia "must be filled".

"Right now [Tarique] is the acting chairman, but I think within two or three days we will be able to make him the chairman, because our leader and chairperson Khaleda Zia has left us," Fakhrul said.

Fakhrul said the party expects Tarique to begin electioneering from Sylhet, following the tradition set by Khaleda Zia.

Expressing optimism about the election, Fakhrul said the polls are crucial for the nation as people have long been deprived of their voting rights....