PM arrives in Rangpur on daylong visit

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Rangpur on a daylong visit to attend several programmes, including a grand rally.

On her arrival at Rangpur cantonment helipad by a helicopter at 01:13pm, the premier was escorted to the Circuit House where she is scheduled to hold a meeting with Rangpur divisional government officials.

She is expected to arrive at the Rangpur Zilla School ground around 3:30pm to attend the grand rally, which, the Awami League (AL) leaders hoped to be the largest gathering with participation of one million people.

A boat-shaped stage was built by the workers of Dhaka and Rajshahi to facilitate the accommodation of 300 leaders and activists.

Sheikh Hasina, also the AL President, will address the mammoth public rally at Rangpur Zilla School venue after around 12 years to be organised by Rangpur district AL.

A festive mood had been prevailing among the AL and its front and associate bodies’ leaders and activists, and common people for a couple of days centring the premier's tour to the district around five years after she visited Pirganj and Taraganj on December 23 in 2018.

The entire Rangpur got a facelift with decoration and lighting, and the city roads have also been adorned to welcome the prime minister.

Posters inscribed with pictures of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and his grandson and PM's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy as well as colourful banners and festoons were set up at the roadside while arches and welcome gates have been erected on roads.

The Awami League and its associate bodies are trying their best to turn the day's rally into the biggest-ever one in the history of Rangpur and thus to show its strength and public support to the ruling party ahead of the next parliamentary elections to be held at the end of December next or beginning of the coming year.

AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader visited the venue and said they will hold the biggest-ever public gathering in Rangpur, assembling over 10 lakh people in and around the venue.

Rangpur district AL Convener AKM Sayadat Hossain Bokul said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s arrival made the common people enthusiastic as the entire Rangpur saw development in every sector under her dynamic leadership.

City AL Convener Dr Delwar Hossain told BSS that they have taken all-out preparation to make the "grand rally a grand success" by breaking all the previous records with ensuring the participation of 10 lakh people.

Both the leaders said after taking guardianship of Rangpur, the AL president has made remarkable progress in every sector.

The district witnessed massive infrastructure advancements like the construction of scores of bridges, culverts, and roads along with the improvement of Medicare services by building new hospitals and increase of seats.

The premier provided electricity to every house, took the initiative to help produce huge crops, turned Rangpur into a hub of education and enhanced its connectivity with other districts and the capital city, the AL leaders said.

They also said the prime minister made Rangpur a division and also made Rangpur City Corporation.

Dr Delwar said over Tk 1200 crore has been allocated during the AL government to ensure the overall development of Rangpur city corporation areas.

To make the rally a grand success, miking was carried out at different points of densely populated areas and every street and alley of the district as the AL leaders also held meetings, and distributed leaflets.

The rally venue has been full to the brim with people by 12pm.

During her visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate some 27 development projects and lay the foundation stones for five others.

/KN/