Rangpur Dons a Festive Appearance To greet PM Hasina

Before Sheikh Hasina, the head of the Awami League and prime minister of Bangladesh, arrives on Wednesday, Rangpur, the country's northern divisional city, has assumed a vibrant and joyful appearance.

Since Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladeshi Prime Minister for three consecutive terms, is venerated in the region as "Rangpur's Bride," there has been a lot of excitement among the people of Rangpur division about her presence during the past few days.

In 1968, Premier Sheikh Hasina wed the late MA Wazed Miah, a scientist from Pirganj in the Rangpur district. Since then, she has been referred to as Rangpur's Bride by the local populace.

Sheikh Hasina last visited Rangpur before the 11th national election as part of her election campaign in December 2018. She conducted election rallies in Taraganj and Pirganj, but did not hold any rallies in Rangpur city.

In February 2011, Sheikh Hasina delivered a speech at the Zila School grounds in Rangpur, and the gathering on Wednesday is scheduled to take place there.

Two days earlier discovered that the opposition Jatiya Party (JaPa-Ershad) leaders located in Rangpur were preparing to greet PM Hasina with vibrant banners, festoons, and arches. This was in addition to the Awami League.

The premier of Bangladesh and mayor of Rangpur City Corporation, Md Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, told the Dhaka Tribune that he and his followers will attend the demonstration for the prime minister since Sheikh Hasina is "Rangpur's Bride" and the mayor of Rangpur City.

Apart from political leaders, members of the Chamber of Commerce, professionals, and social and cultural activists are preparing for the prime minister’s visit.

Central and local Awami League leaders of Rangpur division have made extensive preparations to make this rally one of the biggest rallies of the party.

State Minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, who is a lawmaker of the nearby Dinajpur district, has been in Rangpur for the last couple of days to arrange the divisional rally successfully along with other central and local leaders of the Awami League. 

“We have got the message that a huge number of people will join the rally. The entire city of Rangpur will be flooded with the enthusiastic followers of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he told.

Jahangir Kabir Nanak, presidium member of the Awami League, said: “We are expecting more than one million people to join the Rangpur rally.”

Awami League Joint General Secretary and Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said: “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is coming to Rangpur tomorrow (Wednesday). Although the rally will be held at the Zila school ground, this rally will spread over 10 kilometres of Rangpur city. This grand gathering of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will create history in Bangladesh.”

Law enforcement agencies have taken tight security measures ahead of the rally. 

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader went from Dhaka to Rangpur along with senior Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Helal Uddin Ahmed and visited the rally ground yesterday. Afterwards, he spoke to journalists.

Quader said that the Awami League’s election campaign will commence through the grand public meeting at Rangpur.

“A huge crowd will come here and the northern city of the country will become a city of processions and rallies [Tuesday],” he added.

"This public meeting is a part of our election campaign for the 12th national election. Bangabandhu's daughter, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will make an important speech in Rangpur Division. Through this, she will highlight the current and future plans for the region," the AL general secretary further said.

Quader said that the difference between the Rangpur of 15 years ago and today's Rangpur is like the difference between the sky and the deep ocean. 

“Now there is no 'Monga' in Rangpur. Sheikh Hasina has sent Monga to the museum,” he said. 

Monga refers to an extreme situation driven by poverty and hunger for several months a year.

Quader said: "There has been a lot of development in this area. A six-lane road has been constructed from Dhaka to Rangpur. Now 18 flights take off from Saidpur Airport every day. There has been extensive trade and commerce around the Banglabandha land port. 

“There has been massive development in every district. 100% electricity has been ensured in every area of this region. This achievement belongs to Sheikh Hasina."

"No matter how much chaos and scheming they [the BNP and its allies] do, Sheikh Hasina will win again if there is a peaceful election. Seventy per cent of people across the country are eager to vote for Sheikh Hasina," he added.

During her visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to formally open 27 development projects and lay the cornerstone for five more, among them the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novotheatre.

At an estimated cost of TK 1,240 crore, the projects would be carried out throughout the Rangpur division.

At midday, the prime minister will fly from Dhaka to Rangpur in a helicopter, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). She will touch down at the Rangpur Cantonment Helipad before holding a meeting at the Rangpur Circuit House with senior divisional government officials.

The prime minister will attend the rally organized by the Rangpur district and city Awami League at 3:30 pm following a break for lunch.

At roughly 5:30 p.m., PM Hasina would take off for Dhaka again.