<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived here this afternoon on a daylong visit to attend a number of programmes including addressing a grand rally.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a helicopter carrying her landed at Rangpur Cantonment at 1:13 pm, the premier was escorted to the Circuit House where she is holding a meeting with Rangpur divisional government officials.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She is expected to arrive in the Rangpur Zilla School around 3pm to attend the grand rally which the Awami Leaders said will be the largest over gathering in the district with a participation of one million of people of all strata of life.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A large boat-shaped stage was built by the workers of Dhaka and Rajshahi where 300 leaders and activists can sit together.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Awami League president later will address a mammoth public rally from the venue, her first in 12 years to be organised by Rangpur Zilla Awami League.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A festive mood has been prevailing among Awami League and its front and associate bodies leaders and activists, and common people for a couple of days over the prime minister’s visit in Rangpur district after around five years since she visited Pirganj and Taraganj on December 23 in 2018.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The entire Rangpur wore a new look with decoration and lighting all over. The city roads have also been decorated to welcome the prime minister.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Posters inscribed with pictures of the Father the Nation and PM Hasina are seen on most of the high-rises, important roads, medians and walls with colourful banners and festoons</div><div style="text-align: justify;">while arches and welcome gates have been erected on roads.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Awami League and its associate bodies are serious to turn today’s rally into the biggest-ever one in the history of Rangpur and thus to show strength and public support in favour of it ahead of the next parliamentary elections. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>