Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Bogura on Monday on his first official visit to his hometown since assuming office.

A bus carrying the Prime Minister and his entourage arrived at Bogura Circuit House around 10:00 am, said his Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.

This is his first visit to Bogura since assuming office as Prime Minister on February 17.

The visit has created great enthusiasm among leaders, activists and supporters.

Banners and festoons have been put up across Bogura along the roads welcoming the Prime Minister.

People from different wards of Bogura town began lining both sides of the roads from 9:00am to welcome him.

Abdul Halim, an elderly man from Sonatala, said, “Tarique Rahman is the pride of Bogura. He is now the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. I am standing by the roadside to pray for him. May Allah grant him a long life.”

Another resident, Sujauddin of Sonatala, said, “President Ziaur Rahman was from Bogura, and his son Tarique Rahman is now the Prime Minister. This makes us very proud.”

Bogura District BNP President and Member of Parliament from Bogura Sadar, Rezaul Karim Badsha, said, “The Prime Minister is a son of Bogura, the beloved leader of the people of Bogura and of the country. He has visited Bogura many times before, but this visit is special as he is coming as the Prime Minister.”

He also said people’s excitement and emotion are much higher this time as they eagerly waited to welcome their leader and see him.

The Prime Minister left his Gulshan Avenue residence for Bogura at 6:10am accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman.

Rumon said the Prime Minister has a busy schedule in Bogura.

His programmes include the distribution of family cards, the launch of a measles-rubella vaccination campaign, and addressing a public rally.

He will also visit his ancestral home at Bagbari.

After completing the day’s programmes, he is expected to return to Dhaka by road at night.

The prime minister unveiled the plaque of the newly constructed Bogura District Bar Association building at 11:15am.

Later, he inaugurated the e-bail bond system at the district court.

He will also unveil a plaque at the Bogura municipal building.

At about 12:45pm, he will launch an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign at Ziaur Rahman Gram Hospital in Gabtoli’s Bagbari area.

He will distribute family cards at Shaheed Zia Degree College ground at 1:00pm, and later inaugurate excavation work of the Chowkidah Canal in Nasipur.

He will then visit his ancestral home at Bagbari.

In the afternoon at 4:00pm, the Prime Minister will address a public rally organised by the district BNP at Altafunnessa Playground.

After the rally, he will also inaugurate the new building of Bogura Press Club and the reconstruction work of Baitur Rahman Central Mosque.