Barishal, July 13 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in Barishal on Monday on his first official visit to the division since assuming office, receiving a warm welcome from thousands of BNP leaders, activists and supporters in Gournadi.

His motorcade reached Gournadi around 9:50am, where Information and Broadcasting Minister and Barishal-1 MP Zahir Uddin Swapon, along with local party leaders, received him.

Thousands of BNP leaders, activists and supporters lined both sides of the road at the gateway to Barishal, greeting their party chief with prolonged applause as his convoy passed.

Standing in the red-and-green bulletproof bus bearing the slogan "Bangladesh First", the Prime Minister waved to the cheering crowd and acknowledged...