CHATTOGRAM, May 9 (V7N) - Preparations are in full swing in Chattogram to welcome Chief Adviser Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus on his first visit to his home district since assuming office as head of the interim government.  

The people of Chattogram are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their globally acclaimed son, the microcredit pioneer and Nobel laureate, on May 14th.

Prof. Yunus's day-long visit will include a packed itinerary, spanning from Chattogram Port to the University of Chattogram (CU), the region's oldest higher education institution, located near his ancestral village of Jobra in Fatehpur union, Hathazari upazila.

In addition to delivering the convocation address at the university's 5th convocation, Prof. Yunus is expected to visit Jobra village, where he initiated his microcredit experiments.  

The Chattogram district administration has nearly completed its extensive preparations for Prof. Muhammad Yunus's maiden visit.

"The people of Chattogram are eagerly waiting to offer a warm welcome to the son of their soil to make historic his first ever visit as the head of the interim government. We are also working day and night as per guideline of high officials to make honorable Chief Adviser's much awaited visit to his home district a success," said Farida Khanom, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Chattogram.  

According to his visit schedule, the Chief Adviser will attend a meeting at the NCT-5 premises within Chattogram Port to exchange views with senior port and shipping officials, as well as representatives from various port user organizations and trade bodies. A multimedia presentation on current port operations, performance, future prospects, and ongoing and proposed key installations, including the Bay Terminal and Matarbari Deep Sea Port, will be given.  

From the port, Prof. Muhammad Yunus will proceed to Chattogram Circuit House, where he will unveil the foundation stone of the Kalurghat Bridge over the Karnaphuli River, a long-awaited bridge demanded by the vast population of the Karnaphuli River's southern bank, including Boalkhali and parts of Patiya upazilas. He will also hand over the registered deed of the Chattogram Heart Foundation hospital to the relevant authorities.  

Prof. Muhammad Yunus will then travel to the Chattogram University Campus to attend the 5th Convocation Ceremony, scheduled for the afternoon at CU's central playground.  

Approximately 22,600 participants from the academic years 2011 to 2023 will receive their certificates at the convocation, including 22 PhD degree holders (2015-2025). Prof. Yunus, a former economics department faculty member, will deliver the convocation address, and CU authorities will confer a De Lit degree upon him for his outstanding contributions to poverty alleviation and global peace promotion.  

Education Adviser Prof. CR Abrar and University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. SMA Fayez will attend the convocation ceremony as special guests.  

"We have taken all-out preparations to make a success our convocation program under the leadership and supervision of Vice Chancellor Prof. Mohammad Yahiya Akter. We expect the gala ceremony will be the ever biggest convocation in the history of such function organized by any higher educational institution in the country as around 1,00,000 people will congregate on CU campus to attend the grand function," CU Registrar Prof. Saiful Islam said.

The CU authorities have initiated efforts to further decorate and beautify the naturally picturesque campus, which spans 2,300 acres and includes small mountains and hillocks.

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