Chattogram is getting a facelift ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit on 9 August with authorities intensifying road repairs, cleaning, beautification, and security measures along his planned routes.
A visit to Kazir Dewri, Lalkhan Bazar, GEC intersection, Gate No 2, Muradpur, Oxygen, Baradighi Par, the airport road, and Radisson Blu Hotel area yesterday (6 August) found workers washing roads, repainting dividers, cleaning medians, removing weeds, and trimming trees. Patching and footpath-cleaning work was also under way.
Earlier, the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) evicted around 50 illegal shops and food carts occupying footpaths on both sides of SS Khaled Road between Kazir Dewri and Lalkhan Bazar. The move improved pedestrian movement and restored order along the route.
Officials from the CCC, district administration, police, and other agencies said ongoing development and maintenance work had been intensified ahead of the visit. However, no separate development project had been taken up for the visit.
Chattogram City Mayor Shahadat Hossain told The Business Standard, “No new development project has been taken up for the prime minister’s visit. These activities are part of the ongoing work to beautify the city, maintain cleanliness, and repair roads.”
“We started greenery and beautification work on the road medians last month. The work is continuing from the airport to Lalkhan Bazar, particularly under the elevated expressway. Although the entire area has not yet been formally handed over to us, we informed the relevant authorities and started the work on our own initiative,” he said.
The mayor said beautification work on the medians from the airport to Mohra had started earlier. Repairs to damaged infrastructure were also under way.
He said the relevant authorities had been requested to repair the road managed by the Roads and Highways Department from Oxygen to Bahaddarhat, particularly the route used by people entering the city from Hathazari.
Around 196 kilometers of roads in the city were damaged by prolonged heavy rain, Shahadat said. If weather conditions remain favorable, the necessary repair and beautification work can be completed before the PM’s visit, he added.
The CCC is also supervising cleaning activities across the city. More than 300 sanitation workers are working in two shifts, said CCC Deputy Chief Conservancy Officer Pranab Kumar Sharma.
The workers have been kept on standby with necessary equipment so they can respond quickly whenever required, he said.
BNP prepares for organisational meeting
The Chattogram metropolitan unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has also begun preparations for the visit of party Chairman Tarique.
Chattogram city BNP General Secretary Nazimur Rahman told TBS that an organisational meeting was being planned in line with the PM’s schedule. Preliminary discussions are under way to hold the meeting at a hall of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Chattogram Bay View.
Leaders and activists from the three organisational district units are expected to attend.
“Our leaders and activists are interested in meeting and exchanging views with the prime minister. We are planning an organisational meeting based on his schedule. Participation will be allowed in accordance with the prescribed guidelines,” he said.
Security tightened
Security preparations around the port city have also been intensified.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasan Md Shaukat Ali told TBS, “All necessary security measures will be taken for the prime minister’s security in accordance with the existing rules. Law enforcement agencies will perform their duties with the highest level of vigilance.”
He said details could not be disclosed at this stage for security reasons. However, all necessary security measures in line with the existing rules to protect the PM would be ensured, he added.
On Wednesday, during an inspection of the overall law and order situation, Chattogram District Police Superintendent Md Masud Alam told journalists that a coordinated security plan was being implemented for every venue on the itinerary.
The plan covers the venues, helipads, roads, rooftops of buildings, and other important installations. Around 2,500 police personnel are initially preparing to be deployed for the visit, he said.
PM’s itinerary
PM Tarique will visit Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram on 9 August on an official tour.
He will first travel by air to Matarbari deep-sea port in Maheshkhali, where he will inspect the port, the coal-fired power project and the activities of the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority.
Tarique will then travel by helicopter to Paschim Banshkhali High School and College ground in Baharchhara Union of Banshkhali Upazila, where he will attend a programme to rehabilitate people affected by recent floods.
From there, he will visit Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Uloom Babunagar Madrasah in Fatikchhari and meet Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari, who is also the ameer of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.
He will then visit Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Uloom Moinul Islam Madrasah in Hathazari and pay respects at the grave of the late Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi.
After a short break at the Hathazari District Council Dak Bungalow, he will attend another rehabilitation programme for flood victims at the Hathazari Government College ground.
His final programme will be an organisational meeting of the BNP at the auditorium of the Radisson Blu Hotel in Chattogram city.
After the meeting, he will return to Dhaka by air from Shah Amanat International Airport.
Chattogram district’s Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia told TBS that the PM would hand over 100 houses built for people affected by the recent floods in Banshkhali.
The PM will also distribute relief materials and provide financial assistance to people with disabilities.
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