PM to visit Sylhet on Saturday, locals hopeful of development

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to visit Sylhet on Saturday, May 2, his first trip to the region since taking office. During the visit, he will inaugurate the 'Notun Kuri Sports' programme, aimed at nurturing sporting talent among children and adolescents.

The prime minister will also inaugurate and lay foundations for several development projects in Sylhet. Locals hope that this will reduce the region's long-standing "development deprivation," improving communication systems and addressing waterlogging.

Sylhet residents have long demanded the swift completion of the Dhaka-Sylhet six-lane highway, expansion of Osmani International Airport, establishment of an engineering university, and improved railways with increased train services.

The prime minister's itinerary includes visits to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.A.), the inauguration of a waterlogging prevention project in Chandnighat at 11:00 am, the launch of the Basia Khal excavation in Kandigaon at 12:00 pm, and the launch of the 'Notun Kuri Sports' programme at Sylhet District Stadium at 3:00 pm. He will also attend a party meeting at the Shilpakala Academy before returning to Dhaka.

His previous visit to Sylhet on January 21 was an election rally. This time, while no major public rally is planned, local BNP leaders have reported a sense of enthusiasm among activists and the general public.

The Sylhet District Demand Forum has submitted a 25-point memorandum to the government, demanding that Sylhet be declared the "spiritual and economic capital" and published as a tourism zone in the gazette. They also demand the full international upgrade of Osmani Airport, the establishment of engineering and tourism universities, and the reinstatement of a full High Court bench in Sylhet.

The local administration and BNP have completed all preparations, including extensive road repairs, cleaning, decoration, and tightened security, to welcome the prime minister.