PM’s Chittagong Visit Sparks Widespread Enthusiasm
Rafiqul Islam Selim / Aslam Parvez / Alamgir Nishan / Riyadul Islam Riyad
August 8, 2026, 12:05 AM | Updated: August 8, 2026, 12:05 AM
Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will visit Chattogram tomorrow, Sunday, drawing enthusiasm among party leaders. He will attend programmes in flood-hit Banshkhali, Fatikchhari and Hathazari. He will pay a courtesy visit to Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari, Amir of Hefazat-e-Islam, at Al-Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Uloom Babunagari Madrasa. He will visit Hathazari Madrasa to pray at the graves of Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi (late) and Hafiz Junayed Babunagari. Later, he will meet grassroots leaders of BNP’s Chattogram Metropolitan, North and South district units. He will travel by helicopter to Banshkhali, Fatikchhari and Hathazari.
Nearly 600 leaders from metropolitan, district, thana-upazila, municipality and union levels will attend. The meeting will be at Radisson Blu. Ershad Ullah, lawmaker and convener of Chattogram Metropolitan BNP, told Inqilab that BNP leaders and activists were energised by the visit. “After the election, party activities slowed somewhat. Election-related commitments prevented organisational meetings, while no council or new committees were formed. This created stagnation. I hope the meeting with the party chief will revitalise the organisation at all levels.” He said city corporation and other local government elections were ahead and the prime minister would provide guidance on elections and organisational matters.
Mahbuber Rahman Shamim, BNP’s Chattogram divisional organising secretary and administrator of the Chattogram District Council, said this would be the first full organisational meeting in Chattogram attended by the party chairman. Tarique Rahman would provide instructions on presenting the government’s development activities and strengthening the organisation. Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, BNP’s Chattogram divisional joint organising secretary and State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs, said the prime minister would join relief and rehabilitation activities and meet party leaders. “Tarique Rahman gained widespread popularity through grassroots politics and has always valued grassroots leaders.” “Public welfare is the government’s primary objective,” he said.
Anwar Hossain Lipu, a BNP leader who rose from the grassroots, said, “We are deeply moved by the chairman’s initiative. We will have the opportunity to speak to him directly. We want genuinely dedicated party workers and those who suffered persecution and repression over the past 17 years to be recognised and included in party committees.” Preparations are nearing completion at Al-Jamiatul Islamia Babunagari Madrasa. After Friday prayers, BNP Vice Chairman and Raozan lawmaker Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury and Fatikchhari lawmaker Sarwar Alamgir inspected preparations.
Giasuddin said development and security in the border region were important and people in northern Chattogram were eager to see the prime minister. Recalling his relationship with Babunagari, he said the scholar had stood beside his family during difficult times, including travelling by rickshaw from Fatikchhari to Gahira to lead the funeral prayers for his elder brother, Shaheed Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury. Sarwar Alamgir said demands would include establishing a government women’s college, nationalising several colleges, expanding educational opportunities, ensuring local access to Fatikchhari’s gas, providing gas connections to 18 tea gardens and four rubber gardens, and establishing an industrial zone on government-owned land.
Mawlana Rahmat Ullah, grandson of Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari, said preparations were complete and security strengthened. A pandal had been erected where 64 leading Islamic scholars would meet the prime minister. “The main purpose of the visit is the courtesy meeting with Hefazat-e-Islam Amir Allama Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari and seeking his prayers. It is not connected to any political programme,” he said. In Banshkhali, Tarique Rahman will hand over new homes and rehabilitation assistance to flood victims. After arriving in Chattogram, he will travel by helicopter to Baharchhara Union. One hundred families who lost their homes will receive new houses and keys, while relief supplies and assistance for people with disabilities will be distributed.
A large stage is being constructed at Baharchhara sea beach, with two helipads built 200 metres away. Ten houses are being constructed in each of nine unions, including the municipality, for 100 families. Each tin-roofed house will measure 18 feet by 12 feet, with two rooms and an attached five-by-five-foot bathroom. From Fatikchhari, Tarique Rahman will travel by road to Hathazari Madrasa, where he will offer prayers at the graves of former Hefazat Amir Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi and former Secretary General Allama Hafiz Junayed Babunagari. At 5pm, he will attend a flood rehabilitation programme at Hathazari Parbati Model High School ground. Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Muhammad Abdullah Al Mumin said preparations were complete and stage construction was under way. New homes for flood-displaced families are nearly complete. Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia visited Hathazari on September 12, 2006. This time, Tarique Rahman is coming.
