Prime Minister Tarique Rahman posed for selfies with devotees and exchanged greetings with members of the Hindu community during a visit to the historic Radha Gobinda Dharmasabha Temple in Rangpur on Tuesday, marking Maha Navami of Sharadiya Durga Puja.
Arriving at the puja mandap around 12:05pm, Tarique waved to devotees and visitors before taking photographs with them at their request.
The prime minister was welcomed by Temple Committee President Bhabatosh Sarkar Bachchu and General Secretary Khokon Sarkar, along with Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad Rangpur district unit President Ramjiban Kundu and metropolitan unit General Secretary Prashanta Kumar Roy.
Metropolitan Citizens’ Committee Member Secretary Palash Kanti Nag was also among those who received him.
Earlier, Tarique left Tejgaon Airport in Dhaka aboard a military aircraft at 9am and arrived at Saidpur Airport at 9:50am.
Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, Rangpur City Corporation Administrator Mahfuz Un Nabi Chowdhury Don and Rangpur Development Authority Chairman Shamsuzzaman Samu received him at the airport.
Also present were Divisional Commissioner Jahangir Alam, Deputy Inspector General of Police Aminul Islam, Deputy Commissioner Ishrat Jahan and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mozammel Haque.
After completing airport formalities, the prime minister travelled to Rangpur by road.
Hundreds of BNP leaders, activists and supporters lined both sides of the road at several locations, including Taraganj and Paglapir, to welcome him.
Tarique waved to the crowds from his motorcade and briefly addressed gatherings at both locations, urging party leaders and activists to work together for the welfare of the country and its people.
Tuesday’s trip marked Tarique’s first official visit to Rangpur since assuming office as prime minister following the BNP’s victory in the 13th parliamentary election.
After completing his visit to the Rangpur temple, he was scheduled to travel to Rajshahi to visit the puja mandap at Dharmasabha Temple.
He was also scheduled to visit a puja mandap in Chattogram before returning to Dhaka at night.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad Rangpur metropolitan unit General Secretary Prashanta Kumar Roy said Durga Puja was being celebrated at 964 mandaps across the district this year, an increase from the previous year.
Sharadiya Durga Puja, the Hindu community’s largest religious festival, will conclude on Wednesday with the immersion of idols on Vijaya Dashami.
