Close relatives, neighbours as well as people of Bathua, the ancestral village of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus got emotional and expressed their profound love to their proud son after seeing him among them on Wednesday.
After completing series of events from Chittagong port to Chittagong University (CU) as per his daylong packed itinerary, chief adviser went straight to Bathua village of Hathazari upazila in the district after attending 5th convocation ceremony of CU.
As he reached the village known as Nazu Meah Sawdagor Bari in the afternoon, his close relatives and villagers greeted him with boundless joy, emotion and love.
Prof Yunus exchanged pleasantries with relatives, neighbours and villagers who were gathered there much earlier to have a glimpse of their ‘own son’.
Arriving there after 5pm, he visited the graves of his late relatives, including his grandparents, who were buried in the graveyard adjacent to the Nurali Bari Post Office near Haji Mohammad Nazu Mia Sawdagar residence. Then, he met with the villagers gathered in the field, exchanged greetings with close relatives and locals, and made a brief speech seeking their blessings.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mohammad Yunus reminisced about his childhood.
Recalling all the memories of his childhood, adolescence, and primary schooling time, he said: "I came to the convocation ceremony at Chittagong University. I took this opportunity to meet you. I feel very good, I am delighted very much after meeting with you. Please pray for me.”
At around 6pm, the chief adviser left for Dhaka via Shah Amanat International Airport.
While he was leaving for airport, thousands of people waved their hands standing both sides of the road.
On his way to Bathua village from CU campus, Prof Yunus visited first branch of Grameen Bank at Jobra village and “Jobra Museum” there.
Sheikh Harun, cousin of the chief adviser, said: “Nobel laureate Dr Mohammad Yunus is a proud son of Bathua village. After almost 18 years, he came to his ancestral home. This is a matter of pride for all of us and the local people. We feel glad to have him among us after a long time. I cannot find the right words to express this feeling.”
During his first ever visit in the port city after becoming the chief adviser, he visited the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT-5) of Chittagong Port and exchanged views with senior officials of the port and shipping sector and port users. Then the chief adviser reached the Chittagong Circuit House and laid the foundation stone of the much-awaited Kalurghat Bridge.
He was also briefed regarding the progress of the initiatives being implemented to mitigate the water-logging problems in the port city and handed over land documents of Chittagong Heart Foundation.
