Arriving in Cox's Bazar, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has inaugurated the re-excavation work of the Patli Canal which has remained deeply connected to the memory of his father Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.
He inaugurated the re-excavation work at 10:45am today (Saturday).
Earlier, the prime minister arrived at Cox's Bazar after long two decades by an aircraft of private airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, from Dhaka on Saturday. At the beginning of his Cox's Bazar visit, the prime minister inaugurated the re-excavation work of the historic Patli Canal.
As Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived at the canal site, the villagers greeted him by waving hands and chanting slogans, "Pradhanmantrir Agomon, Shubhechchha Swagatam (Welcome to the arrival of the Prime Minister)".
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and Land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam, lawmaker from Cox’s Bazar-3 constituency Lutfur Rahman Kajal and lawmaker from Chattogram-10 constituency Sayeed Al Noman were present on the occasion.
Patli canal is regarded as a historic canal. In November 1979, President Ziaur Rahman visited Pmkhali and he himself inaugurated its excavation work by using a spade. During the visit, he also planted a date palm tree on the canal bank, which still stands as a witness to that historic event 48 years ago.
The canal stretches approximately eight kilometres. According to local engineers of the Ministry of Water Resources, nearly 40,000 people are expected to be benefited from the re-excavation project.
On this occasion, a festive mood has been prevailing at Pmkhali in Cox's Bazar from the morning. Thousands of leaders and workers of BNP and its associate organisations as well as common people were waiting on both sides of the roads -- from Cox's Bazar Airport to the Patli Canal -- holding banners, festoon, placards etc to greet the beloved leader ignoring the incessant rains.
Before it, the US-Bangla Airlines flight carrying the prime minister landed on Cox's Bazar Airport at 10:00am. Prime Minister's wife Dr Zubaida Rahman is accompanying him.
According the itinerary, the prime minister will visit Dulahazara Safari Park at 12 noon. Through the plantating of a sapling in Malumghat Reserved Forest at 12:15pm, he will formally inaugurate the countrywide 25 crore (250 million) tree plantation programme.
At 1:00pm, the prime minister will offer fateha and munazat at the grave of Shaheed Wasim, the first martyr of July Mass Uprising in Cox's Bazar and son of Pekua. Then he will meet with the family members of Shaheed Wasim.
Then at 1:30pm, the prime minister will lay the foundation-stone of newly-formed Pekua Municipality. At 2:00pm, he will unveil the foundation-stone plaque of newly formed Matamuhuri upazila. Then he will join a lunch at Sayeed Manzil in Pekua.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to address a public meeting organised by Chakaria Upazila and Poura BNP at Chakaria Poura Bus Terminal at 4:00pm. Then he will go to Cox's Bazar by road and witness the sea-beach visiting through the marine drive. The Prime Minister will address a civic rally at Hotel Long Beach Auditorium at 8:00pm.
After attending various programmes throughout the day, the Prime Minister will leave Cox's Bazar for Dhaka by a US-Bangla Airlines flight at night.
END/CORRESPONDENT/ASA
