Bangladesh Prime Minister Orders Renaming of Bogura Unions Over Nepotism Allegations

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Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has ordered the local administration in Bogura to rename three newly formed unions that bore names linked to State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam and his family. The directive follows widespread public criticism over the naming of the administrative units, which drew parallels to the minister’s ancestral home and his two sons.

Bogura Deputy Commissioner Md. Toufiqur Rahman confirmed receipt of the official order on Saturday, which was signed by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, ABM Abdus Sattar. The mandate requires the immediate renaming of “Mirbari” in Shibganj upazila, along with “Shimanto” and “Digonto” in the newly formed Mokamtala upazila. These names were originally established in a June 11 gazette notification that reorganized the administrative structure of the region and introduced four new unions.

The controversy erupted after it was noted that the names selected for the administrative units were identical to the minister’s private residence and the names of his children. In response to the backlash, the Prime Minister has directed that the new titles must reflect the local history, heritage, and geographical identity of the respective areas, rather than personal associations.

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To ensure transparency and public trust, the Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer has been instructed to facilitate a formal renaming process. This will involve the formation of three dedicated committees tasked with conducting public hearings. These committees will collect and evaluate community suggestions for new names, ensuring the decision-making process is inclusive and representative of the local population.

Once the public consultation process is complete, the proposed names will be finalized through official channels and formally published in a new government gazette. The administration has emphasized that the entire procedure will be conducted with strict adherence to transparency and regional relevance.