Minister says union names matching his sons’ names were a ‘miraculous coincidence’

Local Government State Minister Mir Shahe Alam has dismissed allegations that two newly created unions in his constituency were named after his sons, telling parliament that the similarity was nothing more than a “miraculous coincidence.”

The controversy arose after a government gazette published on June 11 announced the formation of two new unions in Bogura’s newly established Mokamtala Upazila — Shimanto Union and Digonto Union. The names drew attention because the minister’s two sons are named Mir Shimanto and Mir Digonto.

The issue was raised in parliament on Monday during discussions on the supplementary budget for fiscal year 2025–26 by Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md Shafiqul Islam, who questioned whether the unions had been named after the minister’s children.

Responding through a personal explanation under parliamentary rules, Shah Alam rejected the allegation and said the names were selected through an administrative process involving local authorities, public hearings and consultations.

According to the minister, Shimanto Union was named because the area lies along the borders of Gabtali and Sonatala upazilas, while Digonto Union was chosen following recommendations from local residents and officials due to the area's remote location near Gaibandha district.

Shah Alam argued that both “Shimanto” and “Digonto” are widely used names across Bangladesh, citing examples of unions, markets, ports, schools and commercial establishments carrying the same names.

Addressing the controversy, the minister said it was merely a coincidence that the names matched those of his sons. He noted that his sons’ full names are Mir Shimanto and Mir Digonto, adding that if he had intended to name the unions after them, the names would have included the family surname as well.

His remarks sparked laughter in the House.

The minister also jokingly remarked that no one had claimed that Shimanto Express, Shimanto Bank, Digonto Tower or Digonto Television were named after him or his family.

Shah Alam further alleged that he had been personally targeted by the accusation and requested that the remarks be removed from the parliamentary record.

However, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed ruled that both the allegation and the minister’s explanation would remain in the official proceedings. He said the records would be reviewed to determine whether any unparliamentary language had been used.

Under the Union Parishad Act, 2009, the authority to name newly formed unions rests with the deputy commissioner, and unions cannot legally be named after individuals. The newly formed Shimanto, Digonto and Swarnagram unions are part of an administrative restructuring process in Mokamtala Upazila, where plans are also underway to establish a municipality in the remaining area of Mokamtala Union.