People from all walks of life in Guimara of Khagrachhari cheered the cabinet’s decision to promote Guimara’s status from thana to upazila yesterday.
Jubilant people distributed sweetmeats amongst each other and held a rally in celebration.
The decision was given approval in principle at the 109th meeting of the National Implementation Committee for Administrative Reorganisation (NICAR) held at the Secretariat on Monday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Additional Secretary of the cabinet NM Ziaul Alam said there would be three unions under the upazila with an area of 115 square kilometres and a population of 44,202.
Residents and politicians, including Khagrachhari district Awami League president Kujendra Lal Tripura and Vice-President Kangjari Chowdhury, welcomed the decision.
Kangjari said promoting Guimara thana to upazila was a key demand of its residents and the decision was part of the government’s development plan.
“The decision was taken in the interests of the general people,” he said.
Guimara thana Awami League President Jahangir Alam said everyone was happy as the demand of the local people had been met. He thanked the government for the decision and said the ruling party would continue standing by the people in the future.
After the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, an influential Awami Minister, while on a visit to Guimara, announced that Guimara union would first be made a thana before becoming an upazila.
On November 11 last year, thousands of local people gathered at Khagrachhari Stadium in anticipation of hearing the long-desired announcement from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who paid a visit there. They, however, returned home in frustration and were discontented as the announcement was not made.
Monday’s decision brought them much delight.
In 2010, then Khagrachhari Deputy Commissioner and incumbent Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Md Abdullah tabled a proposal to elevate Guimara thana to upazila but the process had been nipped in the bud when NICAR had turned down the proposal.
