PM to visit Maheshkhali, Chattogram today

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit Maheshkhali and Chattogram today to inspect the Matarbari deep seaport and other mega projects and meet people affected by recent floods.

This will be his first visit to Chattogram and Maheshkhali since taking office as prime minister.

According to the latest government itinerary issued on August 4, the prime minister will leave his residence for Tejgaon Airport by road at 8:45am and fly by helicopter to Matarbari at 9:00am. He is scheduled to reach Matarbari around 10:30am.

During his visit, Tarique will inspect the Matarbari deep seaport, the coal-fired power plant and activities of the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority.

He will also hold discussions with officials and engineers to review the progress of the mega projects, according to officials.

The prime minister will later visit flood-affected areas in Banshkhali, Fatikchhari and Hathazari in Chattogram as part of rehabilitation programmes.

He is also scheduled to meet senior Islamic scholars and attend an organisational meeting.

The visit has prompted preparations by the local administration in Cox’s Bazar.

Cox’s Bazar-2 lawmaker Alamgir Muhammad Mahfuz Ullah Farid confirmed the visit and said it would be an official tour, not a public rally.

He said the Matarbari projects could turn Maheshkhali into an economic hub and that the demand for a bridge connecting Maheshkhali with Cox’s Bazar would be raised during the visit.