Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the Bogra deputy commissioner (DC) to change the names of two unions in newly formed upazilas of the district amid controversy over their naming.
The unions in question are “Simanta” and “Diganta.”
Bogra Deputy Commissioner Taufiqur Rahman said the prime minister called him on Friday afternoon and instructed him to change the names of the two unions.
“Following the directive, necessary steps are being taken,” the DC said, adding that a fresh public hearing will be held for renaming the unions.
He said the final names will be decided based on public opinion, as well as the history, heritage and geographical identity of the area, and will later be published through a gazette notification.
Sources said that recently four unions — Mirbari, Simanta, Diganta and Swarnagram — were formed in Shibganj and Mokamtala upazilas of Bogra.
Following a DO letter from a state minister regarding the formation of the unions, Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ziaur Rahman initiated the process.
He formed a three-member public hearing committee headed by Upazila Election Officer Shakhawat Hossain.
Committee head Shakhawat Hossain claimed that the public hearing was conducted properly. However, field-level information suggests that the process was not fully transparent.
Local BNP leaders and its associate bodies allegedly proposed naming the unions after State Minister Mir Shahe Alam’s family members — including "Mirbari" after his ancestral home, "Simanta" and "Diganta" after his two sons, and Swarnagram after his UK-based niece.
The committee’s recommendations were later approved by the UNO, who forwarded them to the Bogra DC. The DC subsequently published gazettes on June 11 and June 14.
Following the prime minister’s directive, the names of two unions are now being changed.