Online Desk: Rangpur has geared up to welcome Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today for her first public rally in the district in four-and-a-half years. Her last visit to Rangpur was before the 11th parliamentary election on December 23, 2018. She is visiting Rangpur to launch the campaign for the 12th national election to be held in late December this year or early January 2024, reports BSS.

According to her schedule, after reaching Rangpur, Hasina will hold a meeting with the divisional officers of Rangpur at Rangpur Circuit House. Around 3:00pm, she will join a public meeting organised by Rangpur District and Metropolitan Awami League at the Rangpur District School ground. During her visit, the prime minister will inaugurate 27 projects worth Tk 1,240 crore, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.

The projects include Sheikh Russel Media Centre, Sheikh Russel Indoor Stadium, Sheikh Russel Swimming Pool, Divisional Women’s Sports Complex, Palichara Stadium and 10-bed hospitals at five places. She will also lay the foundation stone of five projects, including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre in Rangpur.A festive atmosphere is prevailing in the 18 northern districts centring the PM’s visit.

After visiting Rangpur District School ground yesterday, Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak told reporters that all preparations have been completed for Sheikh Hasina’s grand rally. It will be a historic rally in Rangpur, he said. The party is expecting about a million people to attend the rally, he added.

Ahead of the prime minister’s visit, a large number of law enforcement personnel, including police and Rab members, have been deployed and the entire Rangpur city has been brought under full security. As part of this, around 1,000 CCTV cameras have been installed across the city.

Apart from this, the entry and exit points of Rangpur city have also been kept under surveillance. Several roads leading to Rangpur District School have been made one-way. Bangladesh Railways will run eight special trains to Rangpur from six districts including Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Kurigram. Asim Kumar Talukder, general manager of Rajshahi zone of Western Railway, said local Awami League leaders have rented these trains.

Meanwhile, posters, banners and arch-gates have been installed in the city to welcome the prime minister. Most of the 33 Awami League MPs in Rangpur division are now in the city. To attend the rally, Awami League leaders and activists started to gather outside the venue in groups since morning, chanting slogans. Many people came to the city yesterday and spent the night.

The leaders and activists were seen waiting at the entrance gate of the rally venue in the morning. During a visit to the district school ground and surrounding areas, it was found that three gates have been arranged for the public’s entry. Bamboo barricades have been put up at the gates.

There is another VIP gate beside the stage, through which Hasina and other central leaders and invited guests will enter the rally venue. Everyone, who wants to enter the field will be searched by the police. SSF members are monitoring the situation.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) of Rangpur Metropolitan Police Maruf Hossain said the law enforcement agencies have designated 21 points in Rangpur city for vehicles coming from different districts to be parked. There are plainclothes armed police to ensure law and order and discipline at the public meeting.

In addition to the venue of the public meeting, plainclothes law enforcers are on duty. Police teams have been deployed at check posts, important entry points, intersections and nearby high-rise buildings throughout the city. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Awami League Presidium Member Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Presidium Member and Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Joint General Secretary of Awami League and Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, among others, will also speak on the occasion.