PM to visit Barishal today

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Barishal today to take part in tree plantation programmes and exchange views with local BNP leaders and activists.

This will be the Prime Minister’s first visit to Barishal since taking office.

Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon on Sunday said Tarique Rahman will travel to Barishal by road in the morning and return to Dhaka in the evening after completing his engagements.

“The Prime Minister will travel to Barishal by road in the morning.There are several tree plantation programmes there,” he added.

According to the programme schedule, the Prime Minister will first join a tree plantation programme along the newly re-excavated Sarikal-Batajor canal at Batajor in Gournadi upazila.

He will then plant trees at Trish Godown Memorial area in Barishal city and at another site along the Sagar River adjacent to the memorial.

In the afternoon, Tarique Rahman will exchange views with leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies at the district Shilpakala Academy.

The visit has generated huge interest among people in the southern region, with many hoping it will help accelerate several long-discussed development initiatives including the proposed six-lane Dhaka-Barishal highway, the establishment of an export processing zone (EPZ), construction of the Bhola-Barishal bridge and the supply of natural gas through pipelines.