AL to accord mass reception to PM Sheikh Hasina today

FT ONLINE

The ruling Awami League will accord a mass reception to its president and Prime Minister Sheikh today for her ‘outstanding success’ in ruling the country.

The reception programme will be held at Suhrawardy Udyan at 3:00pm.

Awami League leaders expect that thousands of party activists and supporters will join the event.

The party has decided to accord the reception to the party chief for Bangladesh’s graduation to a developing country from least developed country status, the country’s sending Bangabandhu-1 satellite into outer space, the prime minister’s achieving Global Women’s Leadership Award from US-based NGO Global Summit of Women and earning D-Lit degree from Nazrul University in India.

Awami League has taken extensive preparations to make the reception a success as the party expects huge showdown in the function ahead of the national polls.

Apart from party leaders and workers of Dhaka and adjoining districts, a cross section of people, including pro-liberation political party leaders and workers, will join the function. 

To ensure the maximum presence of attendees, AL held series of meetings with associate bodies, party leaders of Dhaka city, nearby districts leaders and lawmakers in the last two weeks.

The venue has been decorated aesthetically. A large L-shaped shed has been set up in the ground while as many as 30,000 chairs will be set before the stage.

A photo-exhibition comprising 16 photographs of Sheikh Hasina will be arranged. Books written by the AL president in her long political life will also be exhibited. Besides, the unfinished memoirs and Prison Diary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman will also be in the exhibition.

To mark the reception, city streets from the premier’s official residence to Suhrawardy Udyan have also been decorated with banners and festoons inscribed with pictures of development and achievements of the incumbent government.

The entire venue has been illuminated. A big gate has been erected at the entry point to the venue in front of Matsya Bhaban while 40 other colourful gates have been erected from Matsya Bhaban to Shishu Park.

AL presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury will chair the function while PM’s son and her ICT adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy will be at the stage.

A cultural function will be arranged with the participation of noted singers before the formal beginning of the function. At the outset, a 30-minute presentation will be held on history and heritage of Bangalee nation, sources said.

Vehicular movement will be restricted around Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital today for a mass reception to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued a statement in this regard.

The DMP statement said the roads from Shahbagh to Matsya Bhaban and TSC to Doel Chattar will remain off limits to vehicles from 1:00pm till conclusion of the programme.

If needed, the vehicles going towards Suhrawardy Udyan and Dhaka University (DU) campus may be diverted through Banglamotor, Kakrail Church, UBL, Zero Point, Golap Shah’s Shrine in Gulistan, Chankhar Pool intersection, Bakshi Bazar, Palashi intersection, Nilkhet and Katabon crossing.

The statement has asked the leaders and activists of Awami League from Mirpur to park their vehicles in Nilkhet.

Besides, those coming from Mohakhali are advised to drive through Moghbazar-Kakrail Church-Nightingale-UBL-Zero Point-High Court to Doel Chattar and park their vehicles at DU Gymnasium.

Vehicles coming through Farmgate-Sonargaon intersection-Shahbagh intersection have been directed to turn right from TSC and park at Mall Chattar.

Those coming from Jatrabari, Wari and Bangshal areas are advised to drive through Zero Point-High Court to Doel Chattar and park their vehicles at DU Gymnasium, while vehicles coming from Lalbagh and Kamrangirchar areas would have to park in Palashi-Nilkhet area.