Festive Barisal awaits PM Hasina's address

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has arrived in Barisal to address the Awami League's election rally at Bangabandhu Udyan.

She reached Barisal Circuit House at 1pm on Friday. From there, she, along with her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, reached the rally venue, Bangabandhu Udyan, at 2:58pm.

Although the premier was scheduled to join the rally around 3pm, hundreds of thousands of people thronged packed into the rally ground since early morning.

Within a few hours the ground filled to the brim as a good number of people were seen taking position around the ground overnight to secure their places.

The crowd then spilled over the surrounding areas, roads and empty places long before she was to take the stage made after the shape of a boat.  

Since early morning, a stream of people, including women, were seen marching towards the venue chanting slogans “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” and holding colourful placards, banners and festoons. Many of them wearing colourful T-shirts, cap on heads, head bands with drums, election symbol boat as well as national and party flags.

From 10am, the leaders and activists came and took positions all over the field. Law and order forces have taken extensive security measures for this event.

Several mega projects are still ongoing in Barisal. Moreover, after the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, this is the first historic public meeting of the prime minister in Barisal.

People have gathered to express their gratitude to the prime minister and to get a close look at the public meeting.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim will also speak there.