Bogura was officially upgraded to a city corporation on Monday after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated it, elevating the 150-year-old municipality to full city corporation status.
At around 12pm, he unveiled the plaque of Bogura City Corporation, marking its formal launch as the 13th city corporation in the country.
The existing city corporations include Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet, Narayanganj, Cumilla, Rangpur, Gazipur and Mymensingh.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Prime Minister said the long-standing demand of the people had now been fulfilled through the creation of the city corporation. “You have had this demand for a long time. Today, with the establishment of the city corporation, that demand has been fulfilled.”
He added, “Bogura must be turned into a model town. This cannot be done by the government alone; everyone’s cooperation is needed.”
Calling himself a son of Bogura, Tarique Rahman said he belongs to the people of Bogura like one of their own, while noting that the people of the entire country have now entrusted him with national responsibility. He also sought prayers so that he can work for the welfare of the country as a whole.
Bogura municipality, one of the oldest in northern Bangladesh, began its journey on 1 July 1876 during the British colonial period.
It currently has 21 wards and a population of around 4 lakh, according to the 2022 census.
In 2006, the municipality was expanded to 69.56 square kilometres with the inclusion of 48 mouzas and was upgraded from 12 to 21 wards. A plan was also made at that time to develop it into a city corporation, but it was not implemented later.
Before the inauguration, the Prime Minister arrived at Bogura Circuit House at around 10am.
He later unveiled the newly constructed building of the District Bar Association on the court premises and also inaugurated the e-bail bond system in Bogura and six other district courts.
He also planted a sapling on the premises after inaugurating Bogura City Corporation.
This marks Tarique Rahman’s first visit to Bogura since assuming office on 17 February.
He is also scheduled to carry out several programmes across the district, including launching an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign at Ziaur Rahman Gram Hospital in Bagbari area of Gabtoli.
He is further expected to distribute family cards at Shaheed Zia Degree College ground, inaugurate excavation work on Chowkidah Canal in Nasipur, visit his ancestral home in Bagbari, and address a public rally organised by the district BNP at Altafunnessa Playground.
