Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina on Sunday opened 29 development projects and laid foundation stones of six others, all aimed to benefit directly this southeastern district.
She inaugurated the development schemes and laid the foundation stones while addressing a grand rally of hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic people at the historic Polo Ground in Chattogram.
While opening the development projects, the prime minister said, "I brought these uplift schemes as gift for the people of Chattogram in the month of victory."
Chattogram city, north and south district units of the ruling AL organised the mammoth public gathering that turned into a human sea.
The inaugurated development schemes by the premier include the Halda River and Dhurong Canal Bank Conservation and Flood Control Project in Fatikchari and Hathajari upazilas of the district, Rehabilitation (1st Revised) Project through Slope Protection Work in 72 No. Polder Erosion Prone Area of Sandwip upazila and Permanent Rehabilitation scheme (2nd Revised) comprising Polders of 64/1A, 64/1B, 64/1C of Banshkhali upazila.
Other development projects include Sitakunda Technical School and College, Fatikchari Technical School and College and Raozan Technical School and College under Technical and Madrasa Education Department, the construction work of a 6-storey building of Darul Uloom Alia Madrasa under Kotwali police station, a 5-storey building and a 4-storey administrative building, workshop, one-storey service area and rainwater storage in Sitakund Technical School.
Among other projects, the construction work of 4-storey building of Sontoshpur high school in Sandip upazila and 10 storey academic building of Govt. City College under Double Mooring Thana was also opened.
Construction of a 10-bed Mother and Child Welfare Center at Hinguli at Mirsharai and Chunti 10-bed Mother and Child Welfare Center at Lohagarh under the Department of Health Services is also opened.
The prime minister also laid foundation stone of six development projects that include construction of ancillary facilities including jetties in Mirsharai and Sandwip parts of Chattogram under the Ministry of Shipping, establishment of UN Green Garden with modern facilities in Panchlaish residential area under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and construction of BPC building in Chattogram under the power department.
The mammoth gathering welcomed the Awami League president with huge claps and slogans when she got on the boat-shaped stage as she replied by waiving hands.
The Polo Ground and its surrounding areas such as Tiger Pass, Lalkhan Bazar, Kazir Dewri and New Market areas have become full to the brim by the people and the AL leaders and activists.
People started assembling at the venue with colourful processions from early in the morning to have a glimpse of Sheikh Hasina.
The prime minister reached Chattogram in the morning for a day long visit to join several programmes including the rally as part of her party's election campaign that started from Jashore to drum up public support in favour of AL.
AL's next public meeting is scheduled to be held at the Sheikh Kamal International Stadium in Cox's Bazar on December 7.
Earlier, on March 28, 2012, the prime minister attended a meeting of 14- party grand alliance led by the Awami League at the Polo Ground.
