Chittagong, the economic capital city of Bangladesh, is eagerly waiting to welcome Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a festive manner amid tight security.
Sheikh Hasina will attend a political rally and deliver a speech at the historic Polo Ground stadium in the afternoon on Sunday.
Alongside attending the rally, the prime minister will inaugurate 30 projects and lay the foundation stones of four others in Chittagong.
The 30 projects to be inaugurated include many newly built academic buildings of educational institutions, while the four projects the foundation stones of which will be laid are construction of jetties and necessary infrastructures in Sandwip and Mirsarai, modernization of Bangladesh Marine Academy in Anwara, construction of a United Nations Green Field with modern amenities at Panchlaish residential area of Chittagong city and construction of a building for Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
Dhaka TribuneChittagong city, north and south district unit Awami League jointly arranged the rally, as the Awami League chief started the party's election campaign in Jessore last week and will attend a series of rallies in the upcoming year before the general election.
During a visit to the ground on Saturday morning, this correspondent observed that preparations were underway with central and local leaders of the ruling party hoping that a million people will gather at the rally.
The Polo Ground is a large space in the heart of Chittagong, and is famous for some remarkable political rallies.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman attended a political rally on this ground in 1972. At the time the area was enclosed by big trees. Some branches of the trees were broken due to the pressure of people who were on the branches to watch Bangabandhu, said Awami League leaders of Chittagong.
Recently, the BNP also held a political rally at this ground.
Awami League leaders, expecting their rally to draw a similar large crowd, have broken down a wall, which was in the middle of the ground, to widen the venue.
On Friday night, Zahangir Kabir Nanak, a presidium member of the Awami League, told this correspondent: “We are getting a huge response from the people of Chittagong. Locals are very enthusiastic about being at the prime minister's rally. That's why we have broken down the inside wall of the ground and made the ground larger in a bid to accommodate more than 300,000 people inside the ground.”
Dhaka TribuneWorkers were busy Saturday morning around the boat-shaped stage where Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and central leaders of the ruling party will speak on Sunday.
Banners, festoons and balloons were seen inside and around the venue to make the event colourful.
The entire area was fenced in with bamboo and wood.
Besides, a significant number of law enforcers have been deployed to tighten security in the area ahead of the rally.
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud told reporters that the party expects around eight to 10 times more people than the venue's capacity to hold in the nearby areas.
Responding to a question Dr Hasan Mahmud said: “Almost the entire venue will be opened [Sunday] except the places around the stage for security reasons, so people will easily attend the rally of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”
Awami League central leaders, including Abdur Rahman, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, BM Mozammel Haque, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Sopon, Aminul Islam Amin and Biplab Barua have been working tirelessly in coordination with central and local leaders of Chittagong for the last week to ensure a successful rally.
Dhaka TribuneWhile talking with Dhaka Tribune on Friday night, Mahbubul Alam Hanif said: “We are expecting a remarkable public rally at the ground as the people of Chittagong have experienced tremendous development in the last three terms of the Awami league government and now they are keen to give thanks to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through this rally.”
Apart from the Awami League, the Jubo League, Swechasebak League and other associate bodies of the ruling party have also taken huge preparations to make the rally a success.
PM Hasina last addressed an Awami League rally in the port city on March 28, 2012 at the same venue.
Around 7,500 policemen will be deployed across the city. Among them, 6,000 members will be in charge of security in the entire Chittagong city, including the ground, said CMP Commissioner Krishnapad Roy.
Another 1,500 policemen will be deployed outside the city to strengthen security, he added.
