(BSS) - An atmosphere of festivity and unbridled enthusiasm has gripped Khulna ahead of Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman`s visit, with party leaders and activists preparing to set a different example this time.

Instead of elaborate decorations to welcome their leader on November 5, BNP activists have been working around the clock to transform the city into a clean, beautiful, and environmentally friendly urban centre.

During a visit this morning, the Khulna Stadium area looked almost unrecognisable, with streets free of litter and walls adorned with colourful graffiti, including portraits of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

The city`s KD Ghosh Road, Haji Mohsin Road, Lower Jashore Road and other parts of the city have been decorated with banners, festoons and arches, giving Khulna a beautiful look.

Shamsunnahar, Momtaz Begum and Ramzan Ali, who came to Khulna from Hatbati village of Batiaghata upazila to attend a court hearing in a case, was surprised by the cleanliness and decorations around the district stadium, located just a few yards from the court premises.

When they asked about the reason behind the sudden beautification, a lawyer`s clerk told them that the Prime Minister would visit the stadium on November 5.

"We wish the Prime Minister would visit again and again. The city would remain so beautiful," they remarked.

Rafiqul Mia, a retired secondary school teacher, expressed hope that the PM`s Khulna visit will open a new era to set up new industries, factories, and speedy business and to create job opportunities.

Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) sources said that the law enforcement agencies would join a security related meeting this evening ahead of the Prime Minister`s visit, where responsibilities of different agencies would be assigned.

Meanwhile, the City and District units of BNP and its associate organisations have undertaken extensive preparations to make the visit memorable.

Meetings, extended sessions and consultations are being held regularly. Party leaders said their focus was on maintaining discipline along the route, avoiding unnecessary banners, festoons and arches.

According to party sources, Khulna City and District BNP have jointly planned what they described as the largest-ever reception in the city`s history.

Thousands of party activists, supporters and people from all walks of life are expected to line both sides of the long route from Kudir Battala in Rupsha through Rupsha Bypass and Sher-e-Bangla Road, past Power House intersection, to the district stadium.

Khulna City BNP General Secretary and BCB Director Shafiqul Alam Tuhin said the floral showers and enthusiastic greetings along the route would remain memorable in history.

Photo: BSS
Photo: BSS

City BNP President Advocate Shafiqul Alam Mona said party leaders and activists had been instructed to stand along both sides of the roads from the city`s entrance to the district stadium to welcome the prime minister.

Former lawmaker and Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju said that an effort to beautify the city and ensure a cleanliness programme is underway from Zero Point, the city`s entrance, to its other areas.

BNP activists had also joined the cleanliness campaign, he added.

He said the Prime Minister will inaugurate the second season of `Notun Kuri Sports` at Khulna District Stadium, launching the competition simultaneously in 503 upazilas across the country.

Around 16.23 lakh young participants have registered for the second season, compared with 168,000 in the inaugural season. Teams have been formed in 4,599 unions, involving around 14 lakh athletes in the sports and cultural programme.

According to Khulna District Administration, the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will make a daylong official visit to Bagerhat and Khulna on Thursday, attending several development and cultural programmes.

According to the itinerary, he will leave his residence for Tejgaon Airport at 8:45am and fly by helicopter to Mongla Port at 9:15am.

Upon arrival at 10am, the Premier will attend the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Invest Bangladesh and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), followed by the foundation stone laying of two container jetties and associated facilities under the Mongla Port expansion and development project at 10:30am.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will leave for the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (R) at 11:15am and arrive there at 12:45pm for prayers.

At 1:15pm, he will depart for Khulna and arrive at the Circuit House at 2:15pm for a brief break.

At 3pm, Tarique Rahman will formally inaugurate `Notun Kuri Sports (Season-2)` at Khulna District Stadium, organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to discover sporting talent among children and teenagers.

He will leave for Dhaka by helicopter at 4:30pm and arrive in the capital at 5:15pm.

Contacted, Khulna Deputy Commissioner Hoore Jannat said that the Bagerhat and Khulna District Administrations and the Divisional Commissioner`s office have taken necessary preparations and security measures ahead of the PM`s visit