The people of Rajshahi city, along with other parts of the eight districts under the Rajshahi division, are eagerly waiting to welcome Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday.
By Saturday, the metropolis became colourful, decorated with scores of banners, posters, placards, festoons, and paintings on the roadside walls.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to address a huge rally organised by Rajshahi city and district units of Bangladesh Awami League (AL) at historic Madrasha ground on Sunday as the chief guest.
Aside from addressing the rally, she is expected to inaugurate 25 projects, involving around Tk 1,316.97 crore. The prime minister is also likely to lay the foundation stones of six other projects with an estimated cost of around Tk 376.28 crore.
AL leaders and workers put up banners and posters welcoming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on both sides of the roads towards the rally venue.
Rajshahi Mayor and AL Presidium Member AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said measures have been taken so that the people can hear the prime minister’s speech in the venue as well as around three kilometres of the surrounding area.
“We are now in the final stage of preparations,” he said, adding that an adequate number of volunteers will remain engaged for security.
Mayor Liton said the law enforcement agencies have taken tight security measures to make the event a total success.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) has imposed some restrictions. RMP Commissioner Anisur Rahman told BSS that carrying, using, possessing and selling all kinds of firearms, explosives and crackers have been banned from 6am on January 27 to 6am on January 30, 2023, in the city.
Drone flying without prior permission has also been banned for the same period.
Selling and purchasing any type of drugs, including local and foreign alcohol, were also banned. Shops and bars that sell such items have been asked to shut their business during this time.
He, however, mentioned that firearms of law enforcement agencies and other security personnel will not remain under the purview of the restriction.
Commissioner Anisur Rahman said they have imposed the restrictions to maintain a peaceful environment centring the event, where a large number of people from far-flung areas of the region are expected to join.
