PM’s Visit to the North Sends Ripples Across the Region; Tours Khulna-Mongla Today

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Khulna and Mongla today, Thursday, to explore the economic potential of the Sundarbans, Mongla Port and a proposed economic zone. Meanwhile, his recent surprise tour of Rangpur and Rajshahi has sparked widespread discussion across northern Bangladesh.

During his northern tour, crowds gathered along the roads and at public meetings to catch a glimpse of the prime minister. Many people who had previously seen him as a political leader were now observing him as head of government. Longtime BNP supporters said his manner and interactions with ordinary people remained largely unchanged.

At a rally at the historic Madrasa Maidan in Rajshahi, Mr. Tarique Rahman surprised the audience by asking BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed to preside over the meeting instead of the district or metropolitan BNP president, as is customary.

Mr. Rizvi has deep political roots in Rajshahi, where he grew up, pursued politics and served as vice-president of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU). He was shot in the abdomen during the anti-autocracy movement and continues to suffer from the injury. Longtime BNP activists viewed the decision as a mark of respect for his political struggle.

The prime minister began his speech by greeting the audience and invoking the name of Allah. The rally focused mainly on financial incentives for sugarcane farmers. Using a laptop, he initiated the transfer of Tk 12 crore to nearly 40,000 farmers, saying the money would reach their bank accounts with a single click.

Veteran BNP activist Mir Momtaz Hossain Nawab, who was seated beside this correspondent, compared the process to the transfer of prize money to contestants on the television programme Kaun Banega Crorepati. He expressed optimism that the digital system would become popular as it enabled the government to deliver financial assistance quickly.

Speaking at the rally, lawmaker and sugarcane farmer Abu Sayeed Chand recalled the alleged persecution of sugarcane farmers during the Awami League regime. Rajshahi Sadar lawmaker and Land Minister also raised several demands, including the establishment of an agricultural university in Rajshahi.

Before the prime minister’s speech, Mr. Rizvi recalled that Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani had launched the historic Farakka Long March from Madrasa Maidan. He reiterated Bhashani’s opposition to the Farakka Barrage and said Bangladeshis feared no one but Allah.

Mr. Tarique Rahman described the Padma and Teesta rivers as lifelines for Bangladesh, saying the Farakka Barrage on the Padma and the Gazoldoba Barrage on the Teesta had contributed to the rivers’ decline, damaging the environment and livelihoods. He pledged to pursue Bangladesh’s rightful share of international river waters and said the country would build the Padma and Teesta barrages if necessary.

His remarks drew an enthusiastic response from supporters. Veteran BNP activist Nader Ali, popularly known as Nadu Bhai, praised the prime minister’s firm stance.

After the rally, Mr. Tarique Rahman visited a religious gathering in Ganakpara, Rajshahi, to extend greetings on the occasion of Durga Puja. He also planted a red sandalwood sapling on the premises. Attendees welcomed his visit as a gesture of goodwill and communal harmony.

The prime minister also expressed satisfaction with Rajshahi’s greenery and cleanliness. The city has continued its ‘Green City, Clean City’ initiative, launched during former mayor Mizanur Rahman’s tenure, under current city corporation administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tarique Rahman’s Khulna-Mongla visit is expected to focus on the southwestern region’s economic prospects, particularly the Sundarbans’ natural resources and tourism, Mongla Port’s commercial operations and a proposed economic zone.

According to the tentative schedule, he will observe Hiron Point and the Sundarbans by helicopter before landing at the Nalayan Secondary School ground in Dakop upazila. The possibility of establishing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal may also be discussed.

He is then scheduled to travel by water to Mongla Port, attend a meeting and inspect a port jetty and the proposed economic zone under the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA).

The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, is a vital natural asset supporting biodiversity, environmental balance and tourism. Environmentally friendly tourism infrastructure could create new economic opportunities, provided forest and wildlife conservation remain priorities.

Mongla Port could attract more domestic and foreign investment through infrastructure expansion, improved cargo handling and better connectivity with industrial areas. If implemented, the proposed economic zone could support industrial development, logistics and related businesses, creating jobs and expanding trade. The proposed LNG terminal could also open up opportunities for energy infrastructure and industrialisation.

Khulna-1 lawmaker Amir Ejaz Khan said the visit to Nalayan was an official programme, with no local political event planned. However, local authorities had completed preparations, and residents were eager to see the prime minister.

Dakop Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Borhan Uddin Mithu confirmed that the prime minister was scheduled to land at the school ground by helicopter and proceed towards Akram Point by Coast Guard speedboat. He said no formal administrative or political programme was planned in Dakop.

Mr. Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Khulna again on November 5 to inaugurate the second edition of the ‘Notun Kuri Sports’ competition at the district stadium.

Local residents hope the visits will lead to concrete initiatives to develop the Khulna-Mongla region into a major commercial and industrial hub through sustainable investment and infrastructure development.