Staff Reporter:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman undertook a unique visit to Cox’s Bazar when he drove himself nearly 197 kilometers in the thoroughfares of the beach town and its outskirts to attend a series of official pro-grams during his daylong visit there.
“He (PM) drove himself to various locations as he joined his scheduled engagements in the district (Cox’s Bazar) yesterday,” a PMO spokesman said yesterday.
Prime Minister’s additional press secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman said after reaching Cox’s Bazar Air-port from Dhaka in the morning, Tarique Rahman began his tour directly from the airport amid heavy downpours and drove to Pmkhali Union to inaugurate the Patli Canal re-excavation works.
Ruman said after launching the canal re-excavation work the premier again took the steering wheel and reached Dulahazara Safari Park and during the rest of his engagements drove to all the places of his scheduled programmes throughout the day.
“Thousands of local residents and party (BNP) activists gathered along both sides of roads to have a glimpse of him. Many waved their hands to greet him and the premier responded with smiles,” the PMO press wing official said.
According to Ruman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who was elected to parliament from a Cox’s Bazar constituency, sat beside Tarique Rahman while the premier’s wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and Home Minister’s spouse Hasina Ahmed sat in the rear seats.
He said the premier’s visit to the district and the scene of him being in the driving seat in the scenic landscape of the district generated great interest among the common people.
The visit became a unique example of both official engagement and public interaction.
After spending 17 years in exile in London, Tarique Rahman returned home on December 25, 2024 and since assuming office as the Prime Minister he drove his car on several occasions.
However, this was the first time he personally drove such a long distance during an official tour.
