Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. File photo

CHATTOGRAM, Aug 7, 2026 (BSS) - Leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated organizations in greater Chattogram are eagerly anticipating to welcome Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman who is scheduled to arrive at the port city on August 9. 

During the daylong visit—the first to Chattogram after taking office on February 17—the PM is scheduled to travel from Matarbari in Maheshkhali of Cox’s Bazar to Banshkhali upazila.

Besides the local administration, BNP has made extensive arrangements to warmly welcome the Prime Minister who is expected to arrive in Maheshkhali at 9am to review the operations of the Matarbari Deep Sea Port, the Coal-fired Power Project, and the Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA).

Local leaders and activists are thrilled that party Chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to hold an organizational meeting with them at Raddission Blue in the city in the evening. Senior BNP leaders have said that during this visit, party Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will join an organizational meeting with all members of the full committees of the three BNP units and its affiliated organizations in Chattogram. 

 In this meeting, the Prime Minister will also engage directly with grassroots leaders and hear their views. He is expected to give significant directives from the meeting to the grassroots leaders and activists are highly enthusiastic about this unprecedented initiative, eagerly waiting to share their views with the Prime Minister. 

After arriving at Maheshkhali, he will travel by helicopter to participate in a government-organized programme aimed at rehabilitating victims of the recent floods at Baharchhara beach in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram at 12 noon. There, he will distribute relief supplies and hand over keys to new homes to 100 families who have been rendered homeless. Following this, the Prime Minister will proceed to Fatikchhari at 1pm.

He will stop by Al Jamiatul Islamia Azizul Ulum Babunagar Madrasa to pay a courtesy visit to Hefazat-e-Islam Ameer Allama Shah Muhibullah Babunagari. After that, he will proceed to Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Mainul Islam Madrasa located in Hathazari upazila to pay his respects at the grave of the late Allama Shah Ahmed Shafi. 

After a brief respite at the Jilla Parisad Dak Bungalow, he will participate in a programme at the government college ground aimed at rehabilitating victims of the recent floods, BNP sources said. The Prime Minister is set to allocate a grant of Tk one lakh to each of the 30 families affected by the floods in Hathazari, for rebuilding their homes, on behalf of local MP and State Minister for Land Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin.

Additionally, he will present Tk 10,000 to each of 15 individuals with disabilities as a gesture of goodwill. In the evening, he will attend the organizational meeting of the Chattogram BNP at the five-star Radisson Blu Hotel in the city. 

The Prime Minister is scheduled to depart for Dhaka at 9:20 pm. 

When inquired about the Prime Minister's itinerary, MP from Chattogram-5 constituency and State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin told BSS today that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is consistently focused on the welfare of the nation and its citizens.

He is dedicated to finding ways to alleviate the hardships faced by the general populace and to enhance the state's responsiveness to the needs of the people. So, he has mandated the swift rehabilitation of those affected by the floods in the Chattogram region and the reconstruction of their damaged homes, the lawmaker added. 

The government is currently building homes in Banshkhali, while other upazilas are receiving financial support as required. Concerning the party's organizational meeting, he said, “Our party chairman, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, consistently assesses the grassroots leaders and activists, as he considers them the essential foundation of the party.” 

This time, he will engage directly with the grassroots leaders and activists from the three organizational units (metropolitan, north, and south) of BNP in Chattogram, along with 11 organs and associated organizations. During this interaction, the leaders and activists will also have the opportunity to converse with the Prime Minister, he said. 

“This reflects Tarique Rahman's political philosophy, he aims to advance both the country and the party by fostering inclusivity,” said Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin.  

Nazimur Rahman, Member Secretary of Chattogram Metropolitan BNP, said, 'We have been notified that our party chairman, Tarique Rahman, will convene an organizational meeting with the leaders and activists of Chattogram.” When inquired about the participants of the meeting, Nazimur Rahman replied, “A set of criteria has been established, which stipulates that leaders holding positions within BNP and its affiliated organizations will attend”. 

Nevertheless, some senior leaders who may not currently hold positions but have long served the party will also receive invitations to the meeting.' Lion Helal Uddin, Member Secretary of Southern District BNP, said, “The Prime Minister will distribute relief supplies in Banshkhali and present the keys to new homes for flood victims. Although there will not be a public meeting, we anticipate that thousands will come to see him due to the immense popularity of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.”