Ctg gets facelift ahead of PM Tarique’s visit tomorrow

Chattogram is undergoing extensive cleanup and maintenance work ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit tomorrow (9 August), with authorities carrying out road repairs, beautification and security preparations across the city.

Roads along the prime minister's expected route are being repaired, while workers are repainting dividers, cleaning median strips, removing weeds, trimming roadside trees and washing streets.

Administrative agencies have also stepped up necessary preparations.

A visit to several areas of the port city yesterday – including Kazir Dewri, Lalkhan Bazar, GEC Circle, No-2 Gate, Muradpur, Oxygen, Borodighir Par, Airport Road and the Radisson Blu area – found workers engaged in beautification works.

Earlier, the Chattogram City Corporation evicted around 50 illegal roadside shops and food carts from footpaths along SS Khaled Road between Kazir Dewri and Lalkhan Bazar, restoring pedestrian access and clearing the route ahead of the visit.

Officials from the city corporation, district administration and law enforcement agencies said ongoing maintenance activities have been intensified, although no new development projects have been undertaken specifically for the prime minister's visit.

Sahadat Hossain, mayor of the city corporation, told TBS that the work was part of the city's regular maintenance programme.

"We began greening and beautifying road medians last month. Work is continuing from the airport to Lalkhan Bazar, particularly beneath the elevated expressway," he said.

The mayor said landscaping from the airport to Mohra and repairs to damaged infrastructure were already underway. The Roads and Highways Department has also been requested to repair the Oxygen-Bahaddarhat stretch, part of the expected travel route into the city.

He added that nearly 196km of roads have been damaged by heavy rainfall, but authorities hope to complete essential repairs before the visit if weather conditions remain favourable. 

The city corporation has deployed more than 300 sanitation workers in two shifts to maintain cleanliness, according to Deputy Chief Conservancy Officer Pranab Kumar Sharma.

Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasan Md Showkat Ali said all necessary arrangements would be made in line with existing security protocols, declining to disclose operational details.

Chattogram Superintendent of Police Md Masud Alam said an integrated security plan is being implemented covering all venues, helipads, roads and key installations. Around 2,500 police personnel are expected to be deployed.

Visit itinerary

Tarique Rahman is also scheduled to visit Cox's Bazar tomorrow.

He will first inspect the Matarbari Deep Sea Port, the coal-fired power plant and activities of the Moheshkhali Integrated Development Authority in Cox's Bazar.

He will then travel to Banshkhali in Chattogram to attend a rehabilitation programme for people affected by recent floods, where he is expected to hand over 100 newly built houses, distribute relief and provide financial assistance to people with disabilities.

The prime minister will also visit Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Ulum Babunagar Madrasa in Fatikchhari for a courtesy meeting with Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari before travelling to Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Madrasa in Hathazari to pay respects at the grave of the late Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi.

After attending another flood rehabilitation programme at Hathazari Government College ground, he will conclude the day with an organisational meeting at Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View Hotel before returning to Dhaka from Shah Amanat International Airport. 

Nazimur Rahman, general secretary of the city unit of the ruling BNP, told TBS that selected leaders from the party's three organisational districts would attend the scheduled meeting with the party chairman at the Radisson Blu at Kazir Dewri.