Bogura: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday inaugurated the Bogura City Corporation, upgrading the 150-year-old municipality to city corporation status. At around 12pm, he unveiled the plaque of Bogura City Corporation, marking its official launch as the 13th city corporation in the country.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the existing city corporations are Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Rangpur, Gazipur, and Mymensingh. Speaking at the ceremony, the Prime Minister stated that the long-standing demand of people has been fulfilled through the creation of the city corporation. He emphasized the necessity for collective efforts to transform Bogura into a model town, mentioning that government efforts alone would not suffice.
Tarique Rahman, referring to himself as a son of Bogura, expressed his connection to the people of Bogura and acknowledged the national responsibilities entrusted to him. He requested prayers to support his work for the welfare of the entire country.
Bogura municipality, known as one of the oldest in northern Bangladesh, began its journey on 1 July 1876 during the British colonial period. It currently comprises 21 wards and a population of around 4 lakh, as per the 2022 census. In 2006, the municipality expanded to 69.56 square kilometres with the inclusion of 48 mouzas and was upgraded from 12 to 21 wards. Plans were made to develop it into a city corporation, but they remained unimplemented until now.
Prior to the inauguration, the Prime Minister arrived at the Bogura Circuit House at around 10am. He later unveiled the newly constructed building of the District Bar Association on the court premises and inaugurated the e-bail bond system in Bogura and six other district courts. He also planted a sapling on the premises after inaugurating the Bogura City Corporation.
This marks Tarique Rahman’s first visit to Bogura since assuming office on February 17. He is scheduled to undertake several programs across the district, including launching an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign at Ziaur Rahman Gram Hospital in the Bagbari area of Gabtoli. Additionally, he is expected to distribute family cards at the Shaheed Zia Degree College ground, inaugurate excavation work on Chowkidah Canal in Nasipur, visit his ancestral home in Bagbari, and address a public rally organized by the district BNP at Altafunnessa Playground.