Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday made his first official visit to his maternal grandfather’s home district of Feni since taking office, taking part in a number of programmes, including inaugurating a flood-control project.

The Prime Minister left Feni for Dhaka around 7:00pm after the daylong tour and reached his Gulshan residence in the capital at 11:15pm, said his Deputy Press Secretary Mostafa Zulfiquar Hasan (Hasan Shiplu).

During the visit, he also inaugurated a tree plantation programme and a rooftop solar power project, and distributed Family Cards, Farmers’ Cards and honorariums among religious personnel.

Around 2:18pm, Tarique Rahman formally inaugurated the Tk 1,542 crore rehabilitation work of the Muhuri-Kohua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project at Kheya Ghat near the Muhuri Bridge in Parshuram upazila.

The project aims to provide a permanent solution to the long-standing flooding and waterlogging problems in Feni and modernise the flood-control, drainage and irrigation system centred on the Muhuri and Kohua rivers.

Under the project approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), 67.92 kilometres of embankments will be rehabilitated, 83.5 kilometres of rivers will be re-excavated, and more than 11.5 kilometres of riverbanks will be protected through bank-protection works, including block placement.

A modern hydraulic elevated dam will also be constructed under the project.

The project carries particular historical significance as construction of Feni’s 122-kilometre main embankment began during the first tenure of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

After inaugurating the project, Tarique Rahman addressed a gathering where he recalled his childhood memories of visiting his maternal grandfather’s home in Feni.

His maternal grandfather, Eskandar Majumder, hailed from Majumder Bari at Sripur village in Fulgazi upazila.

Feni-1 is also the constituency represented by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who was elected to Parliament from the seat several times since 1991.

“After many years, I came to my maternal grandfather’s home. On the way here, I was remembering that I first came here in 1984, most probably. Then I came in 1991, when you elected your daughter of this soul, late Khaleda Zia, in 1991. I took part in her election campaign and stayed in this area,” Tarique Rahman said.

He recalled that the road from Fulgazi to Parshuram did not exist at that time and was a sandy road.

The Prime Minister said he has to work for the country and its people, and that, as part of that work, the excavation of the Muhuri-Kohua canal or river has begun.

He said the excavation will benefit around 450,000 people in the area. “Not only will 450,000 people benefit, but farmers will be able to create irrigation facilities on around 34,000 hectares of land,” he said.

As a result, Tarique Rahman said, crop production will increase by around 100,000 tonnes.

He also sought prayers from the people of his maternal grandfather’s home so that he could fully implement programmes for the people.

Tree plantation prog at Begum Khaleda Zia Women’s College

Later, around 3:45pm, the Prime Minister inaugurated a tree plantation programme at Begum Khaleda Zia Women’s College in Fulgazi by planting a sapling on the college premises.

During the programme, he spoke to the students and urged them to participate in sports and extracurricular activities alongside their studies.

Tarique Rahman also provided financial assistance to meritorious students and distributed various sports equipment among the students.

Family Cards, Farmer Cards and honorariums distribution

Later in the afternoon, the Prime Minister attended a programme at Fulgazi Government Pilot High School ground, where he distributed Family Cards, Farmer Cards and honorariums among imams, muezzins, khadims and people working at places of worship of other religions.

A total of 510 people in Fulgazi received Family Cards, while 7,643 people across Feni district received Farmers’ Cards.

Tarique Rahman also provided honorariums to 238 imams, muezzins, khadims and priests in Fulgazi.

At the programme, he told the people of his maternal grandfather’s home that his mother was no longer alive and asked them to take care of him. “My mother is no more. Now you should take care of me, should you not?” he asked, drawing an affirmative response from the crowd.

Rooftop solar power systems inaugurated

Later, around 6:30pm, Tarique Rahman inaugurated rooftop solar power systems installed at various government establishments in Fulgazi, Chhagalnaiya and Parshuram upazilas at a programme held at the Fulgazi Zila Parishad Dak Bungalow.

Solar systems with a combined capacity of 962.5 kilowatts have been installed on government buildings – 415 kilowatts in Chhagalnaiya, 298 kilowatts in Parshuram and 249 kilowatts in Fulgazi.

The rooftop solar systems, installed by utilising the roofs of government buildings, are expected to expand the use of renewable energy and help meet a significant portion of the electricity demand of the respective institutions.

After having lunch at the Fulgazi Dak Bungalow, the Prime Minister left for Dhaka around 7:00pm, ending his daylong visit to Feni.