Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh on Satuday urged the people of Cox’s Bazar to cast their votes for the Awami League in the upcoming national parliament election, emphasising her party's commitment to completing ongoing development initiatives.
"As the elections approach, I encourage you to support the boat, the electoral symbol of the Awami League, so that we can continue serving you and successfully wrap up the development projects that are still in progress," she said during a public gathering at the Matarbari Thermal Power Plant Project's township ground, organised by the Awami League’s Maheshkhali Upazila unit.
Highlighting the Awami League's track record, she said the party's ability to secure three consecutive terms in government is a testament to the people's trust in and mandate for it.
Addressing concerns about rising inflation, the prime minister attributed economic challenges to the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions, and counter-sanctions.
She assured the public that measures have been taken to address inflation, expressing confidence that the inflation rate will soon decline.
“I promised that electricity will be given to every house. Today we have provided electricity. I have made arrangements so that the people of the country can live a better life. Unfortunately, when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, the sanctions and counter sanctions caused some inflation, which we are also trying to control. Hopefully, inflation will come down soon. People will be able to carry on well with life,” said the premier.
The Awami League president said that Bangladesh has changed because her party is in power.
“When the Awami League came to power, the people's fate changed as we work for the people. There is another group that loots people's wealth, they know murder, killing, bombing, grenade attack, smuggling, and arms smuggling. They cannot work for the welfare of people. This is the reality,” she said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her thanks and gratitude to the people who attended her political rally in such a place which is not easy to go to as the rally ground was just beside the sea and almost barren land in Maheshkhali upazila.
Supporters and activists of the Awami league had gathered at the rally ground since the morning.
Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Organizing Secretary Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Sopon, Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Aminul Islam Amin, local Awami League lawmaker from Maheshkhali and Kutubdia constituency Asheq Ullah Rafiq, also spoke at the rally, presided over by Maheshkhali Upazila AL President and Valiant Freedom Fighter Anwar Pasha Chowdhury.
Trade and commerce will expand through Matarbari deep sea port
After addressing the political rally, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Matarbari deep-sea port channel and laid the foundation stone for the construction of its first terminal.
Highlighting the need for a deep-sea port, the premier said: “We wanted a genuine deep-sea port, and after a checking of the feasibility, a proposal came to build this port in Sonadia. But we have many natural resources there. There are different types of marine life and plants. If we made a deep sea port at Sonadia, then there would be a danger of destroying them, and that would not be right, as I aim to protect it. So I came to Maheshkhali. I am doing it at Matarbari.”
The prime minister also mentioned that a separate law would be made regarding the deep-sea port.
She stated that the country's trade and commerce would expand when the port is operational.
“At the same time, not only Bangladesh but also regional countries, especially Nepal, Bhutan or India, will be able to use this port,” said the premier.
The prime minister also thanked the Japanese government for its cooperation in the construction of the deep-sea port.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury chaired the event, while the Chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail, conducted it in the presence of diplomats and special dignitaries.
The Matarbari deep-sea channel stretches from the proposed terminal to the sea, and the terminal is targeted to start operations in 2026.
The construction of a 460-metre-long container jetty and a 300-metre-long multipurpose jetty with an 18.5-meter draft (underwater part of the ship) and various port facilities, including a container yard, began on Saturday.
The channel will enable 8,000 to 10,000 container ships to directly access the jetty.
Railway will connect Cox's Bazar with rest of Bangladesh
Before arriving in Matarbari, the premier inaugurated the newly built rail station and rail track in Cox’s Bazar and stated that her government would take proper measures to establish rail connectivity between Cox's Bazar and other parts of the country.
"We will take measures to smoothen the journey to Cox's Bazar from the entire Bangladesh (through rail connectivity)," she said while opening the rail line along with the iconic Cox's Bazar Railway Station, unveiling a plaque at the newly constructed rail station in Cox’s Bazar.
The countrymen, and even herself, are now eagerly waiting to see rail connections from Cox's Bazar to Panchagar, Rajshahi, the southern part of the country, and Sundarbans, said the premier.
She also said, "Gopalganj and Tungipara will be left out (from the railway connectivity). That means all of Bangladesh will be connected with Cox's Bazar."
She expressed that the people of the country can now feel proud of establishing railway connectivity with Cox's Bazar.
"Today, Cox's Bazar is linked with railway connectivity. This is a day of feeling proud," she said.
The prime minister mentioned that she was very pleased that she could attend in person the inaugural ceremony of the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar Rail Line.
"I have kept my promise to inaugurate the railway. This was a longstanding demand of this region. The demand was met today," she added.
The new rail track ushers in new hope for the strong footing of the country's economy by boosting tourism, industrialization, business, and trade, she said.
She went on to say, "In the next two or three years, the railway service, speed, and transportation will be world-class."
The prime minister mentioned that the newly constructed six-storey Cox's Bazar Railway Station is the best one in the country in terms of its aesthetic beauty and facilities.
She, however, asked everyone to keep the railway station and the rail neat and clean.
The much-awaited 102km Chittagong's Dohazari-Cox's Bazar Rail Line was constructed at a cost of Tk18034.47 crore, opening a new era in railway connectivity in the country.
After opening the train line, Sheikh Hasina took a ride on a train from Cox's Bazar to Ramu after buying a ticket for herself.
The train started the journey after the premier blew the whistle and waved flags.
While giving interviews with the news media after inaugurating the train journey, the prime minister said her government has been working on every development project, including mega schemes, to ensure a beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh for future generations.
She also extended pleasantries to her co-passengers during the train journey.
Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Edimon Ginting, and Secretary of the Railways Ministry Dr Md Humayun Kabir spoke at the inaugural function.
A good number of ministers, Awami League leaders, special dignitaries, government high officials, and representatives of several professions, students, and religious leaders of Cox’s Bazar shared the train journey with the Prime Minister.
The train journey took 21 minutes to reach Cox’s Bazar rail station to Ramu station. Then the Premier went to Ramu Cantonment with her entourage and had lunch there before going to Matarbari.
Earlier, on her arrival at the railway station, the prime minister was welcomed with traditional dance performances by local artists at Cox’s Bazar airport.
PM opens, lays foundation stones of 18 development projects
During the daylong event, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated 15 completed development projects, including Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Project (2x600), and laid foundation stones of three other projects involving Taka 53467 crore on her Cox’s Bazar trip.
The already completed projects were: Bridge over Bakkhali River, Connecting Kutubdia Island to National Grid through Submarine Cable, Cox's Bazar Aiport Development (first phase), Ukhiya Waste to Power Generation Project, 40 technical training centres in 40 upazilas and one Institute of Marine Technology in Chattogram, academic buildings of four schools, tourist bus services, one stop service centre for tourists, expansion and development work of Chakaria Bir Mukti Joddha Shaheed Abdul Hamid Municipal Bus Terminal, Kutubdia Thanda Chowkidar Para RCC Girder Bridge, and Gorakghata-Shaplapur Janatabazar Road in Maheshkhali.
The projects of which the foundation stones were laid were: Teknaf Multipurpose Disaster Resilient Shelter cum Isolation Centre, construction of 184 bridge RCC Girder Bridge Construction on Nanda Khali under Ramu Upazila, and Building Construction Project under Cub Scouting Expansion Scheme in District Primary Schools.
