Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will begin her first visit to Cox's Bazar in five years by inaugurating Bangladesh's first ever International Fleet Review (IFR) as well as a 1km-long jetty at Inani Beach.
Subsequently, the premier will join a mammoth rally at the Sheikh Kamal Cricket Stadium, where she will inaugurate 28 development projects and lay the foundation stones for four others.
The inauguration of the newly-built jetty would be a landmark moment for Cox's Bazar, as it will finally provide large ships with a point to anchor in the district.
According to navy officials, the Bangladesh Navy built the jetty to facilitate smooth rescue and commercial operations, tourism, and maritime security. The navy currently does not have a base in Cox's Bazar, but the authorities are considering establishing one.
Meanwhile, the IFR will provide the opportunity for Bangladesh Navy to showcase its organizational capabilities and bolster naval diplomacy.
Members of navies and coast guards of 28 countries, including the US, UK, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, India, China, Korea, Indonesia, Turkey, and the Netherlands, will participate in the IFR.
When visiting the venue yesterday, this correspondent observed navy ships from several countries already anchored in the Bay of Bengal. Inani Beach has been decorated with colourful flags, festoons, and banners.
According to a statement from the Navy, IFR 2022 will serve as an ideal platform for the world's navies to showcase their prowess, naval diplomacy, goodwill, and cooperation in an international arena.
The chiefs of navies have been invited along with their spouses and staff officers.
Bangladesh Navy previously conducted the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Multilateral Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (IMMSAREX) before an international fleet from November 26 to 29 in 2017 at Cox's Bazar.
Cox's Bazar wears a festive look
Not just Inani Beach, but the entirety of Cox's Bazar has worn a festive look ahead of the prime minister's arrival. The local Awami League unit completed all preparations several days ago.
According to the officials concerned, 77 mega projects are being implemented at a cost of Tk3.5 lakh crore in the district, which are expected to open new doors of economy and tourism industry of Cox's Bazar.
“The work of the ongoing projects in Cox's Bazar is progressing fast. The Prime Minister herself is supervising the work of these projects and giving instructions to complete the projects on time,” Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Mamunur Rashid told BSS.
The major projects in the district include Cox's Bazar International Airport Expansion Project, rail line extension work from Dohazari to Gumdhum, and Matarbari coal-fired power plant.
The rail line extension work from Dohazari to Gumdhum will be completed by the middle of the next year, he said, adding that the work of several other projects, including Matarbari power plant and Cox's Bazar International Airport Expansion Project will also be completed at the same time.
The development schemes to be opened by the prime minister during the rally at Sheikh Kamal Cricket Stadium include the Bakkhali River flood control, drainage, irrigation and dredging project (1st Phase), dam reconstruction and protection work in the sea dike section at Shah Porirdwip, rehabilitation project of damaged polders in Cox's Bazar district, upgradation of link road-Laboni intersection road to a four-lane, improvement of Ramu-Fatekharkul-Maricha National Highway, and reconstruction and widening of Shah Porirdwip section from Hariyakhali.
Other development projects include 399-metre long MP and Ambassador Osman Sarwar Alam Chowdhury Bridge over Bankkhali River on Ramu Kalghar Bazar-Rajarkul UP road, six union land office buildings in the district and four upazila parishad complex buildings.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of four development projects worth Tk571.49 crore that include the construction of Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (2nd Phase), 153.25-metre jetty at Dhurung Ghat and 153.25-metre jetty at Akbar Boli Ghat on Dhurung GC Mirakhali Road under Kutubdia Upazila, jetty at Maheshkhali Gorakghata Ghat under Maheshkhali Upazila and rehabilitation project of polders along Naf River in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas to improve Bangladesh-Myanmar border security.