Dhaka, Jan. 22 -- One procession after another is streaming into the Alia Madrasa ground in Sylhet as the BNP awaits the kickoff of its election campaign through a rally led by party chief Tarique Rahman.

BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and his wife, and recently departed former prime minister Khaleda Zia would also begin their election campaigns in the district, often visiting shrines before the rally.

Amongst the throng at the madrasa ground was Sona Mia, 60, who travelled from remote Tahirpur in Sunamganj. He said: "The late president Ziaur Rahman once stood on this very ground to to seek our mandate, and Begum Khaleda Zia has used this stage for every election since 1991. I have seen them all," he said.

"[On Thursday] their son Tarique Ra...