Ctg getting ready to welcome PM

Enthusiasm prevails among the leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate organisations in Chattogram over the rally of the party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, scheduled to be held in the city's Polo Ground on December 4.

Chattogram City Corporation has been conducting beautification works on different roads ahead of the rally, including cleaning and painting footpaths, decorating flyovers with colourful lights and repairing dilapidated roads in different areas.

CCC staffers were seen painting the footpaths in Lalkhan Bazar area on Sunday morning.

Shahadat Hossain, one of the onlookers, said he was happy to see that the footpaths were being painted on the occasion of the prime minister's visit.

Meanwhile, banners and posters welcoming the premier to Chattogram covered the main thoroughfares of the city. Most of the posters and banners are from leaders aspiring for a promotion in the upcoming councils of AL and its associate organisations, said party sources.

During a recent visit to different areas, including Jamal Khan, Kazir Dewri, Lalkhan Bazar, Tiger Pass, Dewan Hat, Kadamtali, New Market and Anderkilla, this correspondent found numerous posters and banners welcoming the premier.

However, none took the required permissions from CCC as per rules, said sources.

Asked, CCC deputy chief conservancy officer Morshedul Alam Chowdhury said, "The city dwellers are excited as the PM is addressing a public rally in Chattogram after 10 years. Banners and posters are part of such enthusiasm."

"We will start removing the posters the day after the rally," he said.

Echoing the same, Mafizur Rahman, general secretary of Chattogram south district unit of AL said, "A festive mood has been created ahead of the December 4 rally. We are planning to gather at least 10 lakh people on the day."

Asked about the posters and banners, Mafizur said, "AL is a big party and there is no bar from the party's central committee. Anyone can put up posters and banners to welcome the premier."

Contacted, Al Chattogram city unit vice president Altaf Hossain Chowdhury said the prime minister is expected to announce a development package for the city from the rally, hence the enthusiasm.

Al lawmaker from Chattogram-11 MA Latif echoed similar sentiments.