Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday inaugurated 29 development projects and laid foundation stones of four schemes involving Tk1,963.86 crore.
At the outset of the largest ever rally held at the Sheikh Kamal International Stadium in Cox's Bazar, the head of government inaugurated the development schemes and laid the foundation stone of others.
The prime minister said the development schemes are gift from her echoing her speech delivered at Chattogram grand rally after inaugurating 29 uplift projects and laying foundation stones.
Cox's Bazar rally is the third of its kind after the Chattogram and Jashore rallies through which the Awami League president has sought vote for her party's election symbol "boat".
She urged the people to give her party another chance to run the state to ensure continuation of Bangladesh's journey towards the development and prosperity.
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The Cox's Bazar district Awami League organised the rally which turned into a human see as people from all strata of life including the party leaders and workers thronged the venue in thousands to see and hear the prime minister after five years.
Of Tk1,963.86 crore, 29 development projects have been implemented under different ministries and divisions in Cox's Bazar at a cost of Tk1,392.37 crore while Tk571.49 crore has been estimated for four other schemes to be implemented in future, according to the project documents.
The 29 projects, which were inaugurated in Cox's Bazar are - Bakkhali River Flood Control, Drainage, Irrigation and Dredging Project (1st Phase), Rebuilding Embankment and Protection Work at Sea Dike in Shah Porir Dip, Rehabilitation Project of damaged polders, Up gradation of Link Road-Laboni Crossing Road to Four Lanes, Expanding Wide and Ensuring Appropriate Quality of Ramu- Fatekharkul-Marichya Highway, Reconstructing, widening and strengthening of the Teknaf-Shah Porir Dip Zila Highway from Hariyakhali to Shah Porir Dip, Constructing a 399 meter-long lawmaker and ambassador Osman Sarwar Alam Bridge over Bakkhali River on Ramu Kalghar Bazar-Razarkul UP Road, newly constructed six Union Land Office Bhabans, Ramu Upazila Parishad Complex Bhaban, Teknaf Upazila Parishad Complex Bhaban, Maheshkhali Upazila Parishad Complex Bhaban, Ukhiya Upazila Muktijoddha Complex Bhaban, Making Airport Road RCC and other works, Making Shaheed Sarani RCC and other works, Making Bir Birsrestha Ruhul Amin Stadium Road RCC and other works, Making Najirartek Shutki Mahal Road and other works, Making Tekpara Road RCC and other works, Making Sea Beach Road RCC and other works, Making Muktijoddha Sarani RCC and other works, and Making Saikat-Saran Residential Area Road RCC and other works in Cox's Bazar Paurashabha, Cox's Bazar Public Works Park, Baharchara Bir Muktijoddha Ground, Cox's Bazar District Family Planning Office Bhaban, newly constructed four-storey Academic Bhaban of Sheikh Hasina Joarianala Girls' High School, newly constructed four-storey Academic Bhaban at Abdul Maa'bud Chowdhury High School, newly constructed four-storey Academic Bhaban at Muktijoddha Smrity Girls' High School, Kutubdia Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, Pekua Upazila Land Office Bhaban and Cox's Bazar District Bar Association Annex Bhaban.
The four projects, which foundation stones were laid are: Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute Project (2nd phase), constructing 153.25 meter-long jetty at Dhurung Ghat and another 153.25 meter-long jetty at Akbar Ali Ghat at Dhurung GC Mirakhali Road in Kutubdia Upazila, constructing jetty at Moheskhali Gorakghata Ghat and rehabilitation of polders (67/A, 67, 67/B and 68) along Naf River under Ukhiya and Teknaf Upazilas to enhance security along Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox's Bazar district.
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The next general election of the country will be held in the first week of January in 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared it at Cox’s Bazar rally on Wednesday.
Addressing the huge rally at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium here the prime minister reiterated her call to the people to vote for her Awami League party to sustain the country’s development momentum.
“I am urging all of you to cast your vote for the symbol of Boat,” she said.
The jubilant people raised their hands when Sheikh Hasina, who is also the president of Awami League, asked them if they will vote for her party. She expressed gratitude to the crowd.
The rally, organised by Cox’s Bazar Awami League, was presided over by its acting president Advocate Faridul Islam Chowdhury.
Sheikh Hasina said that the ruling AL was able to come to the power for three consecutive terms as the people gave their verdict in favour of Boat, the party’s election symbol.
“From 2009 to 2022 there is a democratic process in the country leading to unprecedented development in the country. Bangladesh has got recognition as a developing country,” she said.
Crowd converges in Cox's Bazar
The Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium become a bustling ground as people of all strata of life alongside the leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies throng on it centring the public rally of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday.
The country's most popular tourist destination Cox's Bazar, which is famous for the world's largest unbroken sea beach, turned into a place of euphoria with enthusiasm of hundreds of thousands of people due to the grand rally organised by Cox's Bazar Awami League.
It was Sheikh Hasina's third consecutive appearance at the public gathering outside Dhaka following the rally in Jashore on November 24 and in Chattogram on Dec 4 after over 27 months since the Covid-19 outbreak.
Pinning upon the public rally of the Prime Minister, the entire Cox's Bazar city turned into a place of jubilation.
The city was in festivity while people from all walks of life as well as leaders and activists of AL became enthusiastic. Arrival of Sheikh Hasina, who is also the president of AL, enlivened the leaders and activists in the area.
Before the arrival of the prime minister, hundreds of thousands of people thronged the rally ground at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium which is adjacent to the sea beach from early morning and within a few hours, the ground became full to the brim.
The crowd then spilled over the surrounding areas, roads and empty places, meaning the town turned into a human sea beside the Bay of Bengal before the arrival of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the boat-shaped stage at 3:55pm.
Earlier, from the morning, mass people, women and supporters were seen marching towards the venue in processions chanting slogans "Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu" and holding colourful placards, banners, festoons, wearing colourful T-shirts, caps on heads, headbands, beating drums, carrying election symbol boat as well as national and party flags.
Women in large and small groups as well as individually waited in the queue at the gate with smiling faces to enter the venue.
Hundreds of thousands of leaders and followers of Awami League and its associate bodies from different parts of the district joined the rally in a fleet of reserved buses, pickups, motorcycles while many were seen joining the rally on foot.
A group of people, who came from Chakoria, said they arrived at the venue early to secure their place in the front row. Due to a huge crowd, they feared that they might not be able to enter the venue if they were late, they added.
Colourful arches and gates have been constructed on various roads of the town with the posters and banners of the prime minister. AL leaders set up banners, balloons, festoons and posters welcoming the Prime Minister and the party chief in various areas of the city.
From the morning at rally ground, local singers and cultural activists performed till the beginning of the rally to cheer up the crowd.
Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Cox's Bazar on a day-long visit to attend a number of programmes.
During the visit, the Prime Minister attended the International Fleet Review (IFR)-2022 here at Inani.
The four-day IFR-2022 began with participation of navy and maritime organisations from 28 countries including Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Navy is organizing the IFR on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of Independence of the country.
It will be the first-ever IFR in the country with participation of so many nations including the USA, the UK, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, India, China, Korea, Indonesia, Turkey, the Netherlands and the host Bangladesh.
The IFR-2022 will serve as an ideal platform for world navies to showcase their prowess, naval diplomacy, goodwill and cooperation in the international arena.
In the afternoon, the Awami League President addressed the rally at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium on a stage built in the shape of a boat.
