PM arrives in Ctg, to attend public rally in afternoon

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Chattogram in the morning on a daylong visit to attend a number of programmes.

She will attend the President Parade-2022 at Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA) in Bhatiari in the morning. She will also take salute at the passing-out parade at the BMA.

In the afternoon, the Awami League president will address a public rally in the port city after around 10 years to be organised by Chattogram city, North and South district units of her party at the Railway Polo Ground.

A festive mood is prevailing among Awami League leaders and activists, and common people over the prime minister’s visit. The entire city has worn a new look with decoration and lighting all over.

The city roads have also been renovated through beautification to welcome the prime minister.

Posters, banners and festoons have covered most of the high-rises, important roads, medians and walls while colourful arches and gates have been erected on roads.

The leaders of ruling Awami League and its associate bodies made hectic efforts to turn today’s rally into the biggest-ever one in the country’s history. Division and gap between the local ruling party leaders have also been bridged over the rally as all of them worked hard to make the event a success, said sources concerned.

The upcoming councils of Chattogram city and South district units have also added additional dimension to the preparations as the intended candidates are trying to make showdown to drum up support.

Work on erecting the rally stage started on November 15. The boat-shaped podium will be of 120-foot long and 140-foot width to accommodate some 200 guests.

The ruling party leaders also want to show strength and public support through ensuring huge gathering at the grand rally ahead of the next parliamentary elections.

AL Presidium member and coordinator of the rally Engineer Mosharraf Hossain said people will join the rally from all upazilas and city areas of Chattogram.

They expected a gathering of some 10 lakh people in and around the venue.

Chattogram city AL General Secretary and former Chattogram City Corporation Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last attended a rally at the same venue in 2012.

Her arrival made the common people enthusiastic as the AL government under the leadership of the party president has taken many mega projects for development of Chattogram.

Nasir observed that not only the AL men but also the pro-liberation people will also attend the rally.

Earlier, miking was carried out at 24 points of densely populated areas and every street and alley of the 44 organisational wards in the city.

The AL leaders also held street rallies and workers’ meetings, and distributed leaflets in this regard.

They hoped that the venue will be packed with people by 11:00am. LED display system will be in place at 7-8 spots outside the venue so that everyone can listen to the prime minister’s speech.

Some 200 mikes have already been installed to facilitate the programme, said the sources.

During her visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate some 34 development projects and lay the foundation stones of four others.

The projects include bank conservation of Halda River and Dhurong canal in Fatikchhari and Hathazari upazilas, and rehabilitation of erosion-prone area of Polder number 72 of Sandwip upazila and permanent rehabilitation of polders number 64/1A, 64/1B and 64/1C of Banshkhali upazila. The Ministry of Water Resources implemented the projects.

Under Technical and Madrasah Education Division, Sitakunda Technical School and College, Fatikchhari Technical School and College and Raujan Technical School and College are awaiting inauguration.

Apart from this, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the construction of a six-storey building of Darul Ulum Alia Madrasah under Kotwali police station, a five-storey building and a four-storey administrative building, workshop, one-storey service area and rainwater storage in Sitakunda Technical School.

Under the Secondary and Higher Education Division, six-storey buildings of Gul-E-Zar Begum Muslim Girls' High School and Kapasgola City Corporation Girls' High School, 10-storey academic building of Chittagong Government College, six-storey building of Kusum Kumari City Corporation Girls' High School, six-storey building of Baklia City Corporation High School, four-storey building of Kerhat KM High School of Mirsarai upazila, six-storey building of Forest Laboratory High School under Panchlaish police station, four-storey building of Haji Mohammad Jane Alam High School under Boalmari upazila, four-storey building of Patia Adarsha High School and four-storey building of Santoshpur High School of Sandwip will also be inaugurated.

The prime minister will inaugurate the construction work of 10-storey academic building of Govt City College under Double Mooring Police Station, expansion of one building of Polo Ground Multipurpose High School, renovation work, including construction of six-stage gallery, of Govt Muslim High School Laldighi ground and expansion of one building of CMP High School under Khulshi police station.

After visiting the venue on Saturday afternoon, AL Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak said the historic rally will be held at the historic Polo Ground on Sunday.

The public rally is very important in the post-corona situation and people of Chattogram are eagerly waiting for it, he said.

 Joint General Secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif said emotion and excitement have been created among the people at everywhere of Chattogram city and district.

 The Prime Minister will address the public rally after 10 years in the city. People will gather to hear the directives of the premier for the countrymen, said Hanif.

 AL Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Mohammad Hasan Mahmud said overall preparation of the rally is very satisfactory.

 “We are expecting that some 8-10 times people will gather outside compared to those of the venue. This will happen practically as people are so motivated. We can see the response in that way,” observed the minister.

 Mentionable, the government has drawn up massive development scheme for development of Chattogram during its three consecutive tenures.

 The under implementation projects include Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar in Mirsarai, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel beneath Karnaphuli river, China Economic Zone, Korean EPZ, four projects in Moheshkhali -- Economic Zone, LNG Terminal, coal-based power plant and deep sea port, rail track from Chattogram to Cox's Bazar, upgradation of Chattogram-Cox's Bazar road into four-lane, Cox’s Bazar airport into international airport, elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to airport in Chattogram city and bay terminal for Chattogram port.

Source: Daily Sun