Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman arrived in Gournadi upazila in Barisal on Monday morning on a day-long visit.
Information and Broadcasting Minister and lawmaker from Barisal-1 constituency Zahir Uddin Swapon, along with local BNP leaders, welcomed the prime minister as his motorcade reached Gournadi at around 10am.
Braving the inclement weather, thousands of leaders, activists, and supporters of the BNP and its associated bodies lined up both sides of the road at the entrance of Gournadi upazila to greet their beloved leader Tarique Rahman with repeated slogans and applauses.
The prime minister responded by waving to the crowd from the red-and-green bulletproof bus bearing the popular slogan "Bangladesh First."
As per the prime minister's instructions, no welcome arches featuring his photograph were erected, and no banners or festoons were displayed.
Earlier, the prime minister departed from his Gulshan residence in Dhaka at 6:00 am for Barisal, according to Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman.
"The prime minister has several engagements in Barisal, including tree plantation programs. He will return to Dhaka in the evening after completing his engagements there," he added.
During the visit, the prime minister will participate in a tree plantation program along the newly re-excavated Sarikal Canal in Batajor Union of Gournadi Upazila and a Family Card distribution program there.
Later in the afternoon, he will take part in another tree plantation program in the Sagardi area adjacent to the Trish Godown Mass Killing Memorial in the district headquarters.
Tarique Rahman will also attend an organizational meeting of BNP at the Barisal District Shilpakala Academy later this afternoon.
This is Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman's first official visit to the Barisal Division since assuming office as the head of government.