There will never be a famine again in Rangpur district, Sheikh Hasina declared to a roaring gathering of thousands of people, including AL leaders and activists, at the ruling party's grand rally at the Rangpur Zilla School ground.

Amid chants singing praises of AL's development spree, the PM highlighted the government's various successes, while touching upon electoral successes as well.

"We improved the quality of lives of people. Only 'boat' improved the luck of Rangpur, so vote for boat," she said.

"The AL has ensured the voting rights of people. People can vote peacefully now. We introduced a photo national ID card for every voter," she also said.

Standing before the gathering – with the venue and its surrounding 10 kilometer radius areas filled to the brim – Hasina also mentioned the punishment handed out to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman, who were sentenced nine and three years in jail in a graft case today. 

"The BNP looted the people of the country when they were in power. They vandalise public properties and carry out arson attacks. 

"Khaleda Zia and her son laundered money abroad. They are now getting the punishment for their crimes."

She said, while the BNP destroys the country, the AL was building it.

"Countries around the world are in an economic crisis, but Bangladesh is still marching forward," she said.

To welcome their beloved prime minister the entire Rangpur was decorated with several hundreds of makeshift gates, festoons, banners, placards and posters with pictures of the Father of the Nation and the prime minister, the UNB reports.

Every lane and by-lanes of the divisional city were also decorated in a similar way.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today also inaugurated 27 newly constructed development schemes at the grand rally this afternoon.

She also laid the foundation stone of five others including Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre at a cost of over Tk2,000 crore in the district.

The projects under different ministries, divisions and Rangpur City Corporation are expected to contribute to the socio-economic uplift of the region and to the national economy.

Of the development projects, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre is one of the most important schemes.

The 10-storey Novo Theatre is being built on 10 acres of land in Rangpur Upshohor around six kilometre away from Rangpur town at a cost of Tk417 crore.

The government has already built Bangabandhu Novo Theatre in Dhaka while four others are being built in Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna.

The construction works of the Novo Theatre in Rajshahi have almost been completed and it is likely to be opened within the next one or two months.

Each division will get a Novo Theatre as per Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's pledge.

Sheikh Hasina visited Rangpur today after four years to attend Awami League's grand rally. The premier last visited the district before the 11th parliamentary election on 23 December 2018.

Thousands of people, including AL leaders and activists, started assembling at the venue since early in the morning.

Leaders and activists of the AL and its associates' bodies headed to the venue in processions carrying colourful banners, posters, placards, small boats and national and party flags.

A large boat-shaped stage has been built for the rally by the workers of Dhaka and Rajshahi, where 300 leaders and activists can sit together.

As part of the preparation for the arrival of the premier, the Rangpur District and Metropolitan Awami League held several preparatory meetings.

Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Mohammad Mobasswer Hasan said they have taken necessary measures ahead of the PM's visit. 

"Adequate security measures have been taken to this end," he said.