Cox's Bazar dons festive look ahead of PM's visit Saturday

Major points of Cox's Bazar town and two sides of the roads are now adorned with banners, festoons, and billboards to welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who will address a public rally in the coastal town on Saturday.

Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, will inaugurate 15 projects and lay the foundation stones of four other projects worth about Tk88,000.

Around 11am on Saturday morning, the premier will inaugurate the iconic oyster-shaped railway station in the Hajipara area of Jhelongja Union. The rail line from Chattogram to Cox's Bazar, constructed at a cost of Tk18,000 crore, will be inaugurated through a rally.

From there she will go to Moheshkhali's Maratbari and address a rally at 2:30pm.

Meeting ground in Matarbari on 10 November 2023. Photo: Collected

Bangladesh Awami League organising secretary Abu Saeed Mahmud Al Swapan MP said Sheikh Hasina herself named Matarbari as "Second Tungipara". So, she has passion and love for this region. Deep sea ports and power plants are being implemented here, which boost the country's economy.

Going to Matarbari on Friday, it was seen that the stage is almost finished and a meeting ground has been prepared.

Many people are expected to gather there from Chakaria, Pekua, Cox's Bazar and various locations, said Cox's Bazar District Awami League President Advocate Faridul Islam Chowdhury.

He said extensive preparations have been made at all levels by holding extended meetings at the grassroots level of the party to make the prime minister's visit a success. Welcoming marches, announcements and campaigning are underway.

Train station in Cox's Bazar on 10 November 2023. Photo: Collected

Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar Muhammad Shaheen Imran said that all preparations have been completed for the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Everything has been arranged including the railway station and an event venue in Matarbari. Also, security has been strengthened in these locations.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to Matarbari after 28 years. Sheikh Hasina herself named Matarbari as the "Second Tungipara". So there is no end to the enthusiasm of Matarbaribasi.

Of these 15 projects, nine are major projects and six are small.

The projects to be inaugurated include railway line from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar, Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Project, Matarbari Deep Sea Port Channel, Bridge over Bakkhali River, Connecting Kutubdia Island to National Grid through Submarine Cable, Ukhiya Waste to Power Generation Project, Technical Training Center in Ramu Upazila, expansion and development work of Chakaria Bir Mukti Joddha Shaheed Abdul Hamid Municipal Bus Terminal, Kutubdia Thanda Chowkidar Para RCC Girder Bridge, Gorakghata-Shaplapur Janatabazar Road in Maheshkhali, landfilling of Water Development Board under Airport Development Project, Dam Construction Project, Eidgaon Jahanara Girls High School, Moheshkhali Yunuskhali High School, Ukhiya Ratna and Morichya Palong High School academic buildings.

On the other hand, the projects to be laid foundation stones are-- 1st Terminal of Matarbari Deep Sea Port Channel, Teknaf Multipurpose Disaster Resilient Shelter cum Isolation Centre, RCC Girder Bridge Construction on Nanda Khali Road in Ramu, and Building Construction Project under Cub Scouting Expansion Scheme in District Primary Schools.

Stringent measures have been taken by law enforcement agencies to ensure foolproof security.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the prime minister's arrival on Saturday, the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Cox's Bazar Md Shaheen Imran banned carrying and displaying all types of legal weapons in Cox's Bazar.

He said that this measure has been taken to control law and order in the district and to ensure security during the PM's visit.