PMO sends letter to Bogura DC over renaming of three unions

The Prime Minister’s Office has sent a letter to the office of the Bogura deputy commissioner (DC) directing the renaming of three newly formed unions in Mokamtala and Shibganj upazilas.

Confirming the matter on Saturday, DC Md Toufikur Rahman said the letter instructed the administration to change the names of Simanta and Diganta unions in Mokamtala, as well as Mirbari union in Shibganj.

This fresh development comes amid widespread criticism after the three unions were reportedly named after the family title and two sons of State Minister Mir Shahe Alam.

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PM orders renaming of 2 new unions allegedly titled after state minister’s sons

While Prime Minister Tarique Rahman earlier gave verbal instructions to the DC to rename Simanta and Diganta unions, the letter from the PMO expanded the directive to change the name of Mirbari union as well.

On 11 June, the Bogura district administration issued a notification confirming the restructuring of two upazilas under the district.

As per the notification, four new unions were formed in the two upazilas.

Mirbari union was formed under Shibganj upazila, while three unions – Simanta, Diganta and Swarnagram – were formed for the freshly created Mokamtala upazila.

Of the unions, Mirbari, Simanta and Diganta drew social media outcry for bearing names linked to State Minister Mir Shahe Alam.

Mirbari is the name of the ancestral home of Shahe Alam, while Simanta and Diganta match the last names of the state minister’s two sons – Mir Shakrul Alam Simanta and Mir Saklain Alam Diganta.

The incident also drew political and parliamentary debate.