She will address public meetings at the district headquarter, Bauphal, Galachipa upazila Sadar and Ranabali. She also will address meetings on way to Barguna from Patuakhali, party sources told this correspondent yesterday.

District AL leaders alleged that they could not observe hartal or hold any public meeting in the district due to opposition by ruling BNP and harassment by the administration. Many activists of AL and its student front Chhatra League were arrested and implicated in false cases, they alleged.

But BNP leaders say hartal was not observed in the district as people ignored the AL call.

Former home minister Altaf Hossain, now commerce minister, hails from Patuakhali.

On Tuesday, local AL held its first public meeting in two and a half years at Altaf's native upazila Mirjaganj.

Hasina's visit will reunite them and boost their political activities, district AL organising secretary Kazi Alomgir said.

Tuesday's meeting was held at Kakrabunia bazaar. It was addressed by, among others, local AL leaders Kazi Mokhlesur Rahman, Jashimuddin, Ismail Hossain Mridha, Moslehuddin Mintu and Habibur Rahman with Abul Kasem Master in the chair.