SYLHET, Sept 15 (V7N) — Bangladesh’s newly elected President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is set to visit Sylhet for the first time since assuming office, with extensive preparations and heightened security measures in place across the city.
The President is scheduled to arrive in Sylhet on Tuesday morning. During his one-day visit, he will pay homage at the shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal (R) and Hazrat Shah Paran (R) and attend a civic reception organized by the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC).
According to the official itinerary, the President will visit the shrines after arriving in Sylhet. Later at 3:00pm, he will attend the civic reception at the City Corporation premises. He is scheduled to return to Dhaka in the evening on the same day.
Authorities have taken special security measures along major roads, at key installations and around the shrines ahead of the visit. Coordination among law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies and various government departments has also been strengthened to ensure a smooth and secure presidential visit.
On Saturday, SCC Administrator Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury inspected preparations at the Hazrat Shah Jalal shrine. He reviewed the progress of ongoing development and renovation works in the shrine area and instructed officials concerned to complete the necessary preparations promptly.
The SCC administrator said all preparations were being expedited ahead of the President’s visit to the shrine. He added that the people of Sylhet were also ready to welcome the President.
According to SCC sources, several development projects are underway at the Hazrat Shah Jalal shrine area, including construction of a six-storey building, a women’s prayer facility, a boundary wall around the cemetery and excavation of a pond. Authorities are reviewing the progress of these projects and the overall environment of the area to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place for the presidential visit.
Preparations for the civic reception are also reportedly nearing completion.
Meanwhile, the Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) held a coordination meeting on Saturday to finalize security arrangements for the President’s visit. The meeting was held at the conference room of SMP headquarters and chaired by Police Commissioner Sarwar Murshed Shamim.
The meeting discussed the presidential security plan, protection of key installations and tourist attractions, traffic and vehicular movement, regulation of public movement, collection and analysis of intelligence information, and immediate response measures in the event of an emergency.
Representatives from various law enforcement agencies, intelligence organizations and government service agencies attended the meeting.
Earlier, the district administration also held a preparatory meeting to coordinate arrangements for the President’s visit. Emphasis was placed on close coordination among all relevant departments and agencies to ensure that the visit proceeds smoothly.
Authorities have decided to strengthen security along the President’s potential routes, at the shrine areas, the civic reception venue and other key points across the city. Overall, preparations are underway to establish a four-tier security arrangement around the President’s visit.
SMP Commissioner Sarwar Murshed Shamim said all relevant agencies and law enforcement bodies had been brought under a coordinated security plan ahead of the President’s arrival.
“Alongside regular SMP patrols, specialized personnel in plain clothes will be deployed. Multiple teams from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will also be assigned to security duties,” he said.
He added that the SMP was working to bring Sylhet city under a comprehensive security arrangement for the President’s arrival.
“With the collective efforts of all concerned, we are prepared to ensure a safe, peaceful and successful visit by the President to Sylhet,” the police commissioner said.
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