Students are the nation’s lifeblood: PM takes selfies, gives gifts in Saidpur en route to Rangpur

Toukibul Hasan Siam, Staff Correspondent Date: 20 October 2026

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took selfies with students blocking the road in Saidpur, Nilphamari, and gave them sports equipment on his way to visit Durga Puja mandaps in the divisional city of Rangpur. The encounter took place outside Saidpur Government Science College on Tuesday (20 October) morning.

Under his previously announced itinerary, the prime minister flew from Tejgaon Airport on a military aircraft and landed at Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari at 9:50am on Tuesday. He then set off for Rangpur by bus. Students standing beside the road outside Saidpur Government Science College greeted him along the way. The prime minister stopped his vehicle, approached the students, took selfies with them and gave them sports equipment, including footballs and cricket bats. The students expressed great excitement at his friendly gesture.

The college’s principal, Abul Kalam Azad, said the prime minister stopped the bus of his own accord after seeing the students, spent time with them and gave them gifts. Azad also submitted a written request to the prime minister for two student hostels and a hall room as part of infrastructure improvements at the college.

Meanwhile, sources at Saidpur Airport said the prime minister would return to the airport after his Rangpur visit and fly to Rajshahi. After landing at Rajshahi’s Hazrat Shah Makhdum (R) Airport, he is scheduled to visit Dharmasabha Temple at 1:30pm. Following a brief rest at Rajshahi Circuit House, he will address a public rally as chief guest at the city’s historic Madrasa Maidan at 3pm.

After the rally, he is scheduled to fly from Rajshahi to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram. In the evening, he will visit the JM Sen Hall Puja mandap in the city’s Rahmatganj area. He will then rest briefly at Chattogram Circuit House before flying back to Dhaka that night.