Bogura's controversial union names to be changed after public hearings

The Bogura district administration has finalised new names for three controversial unions in Shibganj and Mokamtala upazilas today (19 July) following public hearings held on the instruction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Under the revised proposal, Mirbari union in Shibganj upazila will be renamed Betgari union, while Shimanto union and Diganta union in Mokamtala upazila will be renamed Jagannathpur union and Rahbal union, respectively.

Bogura Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Toufiqur Rahman announced the new names at a district administration meeting held at his office.

A resolution approving the proposed changes was also passed at the meeting in the presence of officials from various government departments.

"The new names were approved at today's coordination meeting of the district administration. The proposal will now be sent to the Ministry of Local Government. Once approved by the ministry, the names will be published in an official gazette notification," the DC said.

The controversy dates back to 14 June, when a government gazette notification announced the formation of four new unions - Mirbari, Shimanto, Diganta and Swarnagram - in Shibganj and Mokamtala upazilas.

The names drew criticism after Mirbari was found to be the name of the ancestral home of Bogura-2 MP Mir Shahe Alam, while Shimanto and Diganta matched the names of his two sons, Mir Shakrul Alam Shimanto and Mir Saklain Alam Diganta.

The issue sparked widespread criticism locally and went viral on social media. It was also raised in parliament by Jamaat-e-Islami MP Shafiqul Islam Masud, who brought the matter to the attention of the Speaker.

At the time, Mir Shahe Alam dismissed the allegations as "coincidental", saying the names had been chosen based on geographical characteristics, administrative requirements and public consultations.

He claimed Shimanto Union was named after its border-adjacent location, while Diganta reflected the area's distant geographical position.

He also argued that if the unions had been named after his sons, their names would have included the family name "Mir".

Following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's directive, the local administration organised public hearings on 21 June to consider renaming the three unions.

Two rounds of hearings were subsequently held on 23 and 25 June before the district administration finalised the new names.