Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman arrived in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday morning on a daylong visit to attend a series of development and environmental programmes.

Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said the Prime Minister reached Cox’s Bazar International Airport at around 9:50am on a commercial flight amid rain.

After the formal reception at the airport, the Prime Minister left directly by road for Pmkhali Union to attend a programme marking the re-excavation of the Patali Canal.

At the airport, he was received by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs and Land Mir Md Helal Uddin, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam, Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan and other officials.

He is also scheduled to address a public gathering there following the inauguration of the canal re-excavation work.

According to the programme schedule, Tarique will later visit the Dulahazara Safari Park and formally launch the nationwide programme to plant 25 crore trees by planting saplings at the Malumghat Reserved Forest.

PM leaves for Cox’s Bazar with his wife

He is also expected to visit the grave of Md Wasim Akram, a martyr of the July 2024 mass uprising in Pekua, and meet members of his family.

The Prime Minister will then lay the foundation stones of the newly created Pekua Municipality and Matamuhuri Upazila.

In the afternoon, he will attend a public rally organised by the district BNP in front of the Chakaria Municipal Bus Terminal.

Later, he is scheduled to inspect the Marine Drive road and Cox’s Bazar sea beach before joining an interaction with distinguished citizens at a hotel in the evening.

He will return to Dhaka by air after completing the programmes.

This is Tarique Rahman’s first visit to Cox’s Bazar since assuming office as Prime Minister following the BNP’s victory in the 13th parliamentary election.