PM Visits Rangpur after 4.5 years

On a day-long visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina landed here this afternoon to take part in a series of events, including a major demonstration.

The premier was brought to the Circuit House upon her arrival by chopper at Rangpur cantonment helipad at 01:13 PM, where she would meet with Rangpur divisional government representatives.

She is scheduled to show up at the main rally, which the Awami League (AL) leaders believed would draw one million participants, at the Rangpur Zilla School grounds about 3 o'clock.

To accommodate 300 leaders and activists, workmen from Rajshahi and Dhaka constructed a massive platform in the style of a boat.

After around 12 years, Sheikh Hasina, who is also the President of the AL, will deliver the keynote address at the enormous public gathering being held at the Rangpur Zilla School.

For a few days leading up to the premier's return to the region roughly five years after she visited Pirganj and Taraganj on December 23, 2018, there had been a joyful atmosphere among the leaders and activists of the AL and its front and associate organisations, as well as among the general public.

The streets of the city have also been decorated to greet the prime minister, giving the entire city of Rangpur a makeover with illumination and decorations.

As well as colorful banners and festoons, posters with images of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister, and Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the PM's ICT Affairs Adviser, have been placed at roadside, and welcome gates and arches have been built on the roads.

The Awami League and its affiliate organizations are working hard to make today's rally the largest in Rangpur history in order to demonstrate their strength and support for the current government ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, which will take place at the end of December or the beginning of the following 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 with 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 that they have taken all-out preparation to make the "grand rally a grand success" by breaking all the previous records with ensuring participation of 10 lakh people.

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

The district witnesses massive infrastructure advancement like construction of scores of bridges, culverts, and roads along with improvement of medicare services with building new hospitals and increase of seats.

The premier provided electricity to every house, took initiative to help producing 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 added that the prime minister established Rangpur City Corporation and designated Rangpur a division.

According to Dr. Delwar, the AL administration invested more than Taka 1200 crore to guarantee the general development of Rangpur city corporation regions.

In order to ensure the success of the event, miking was done across the district, including every street and alley, while AL leaders also conducted meetings and handed out flyers.

By 12 o'clock, the rally site was packed to the gills with attendees.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lay the cornerstones for five more development projects in addition to dedicating about 27 new ones during her visit.