M R Islam Swadhin formally takes office as Bogura City Corp administrator

After a long wait, northern Bangladesh’s gateway city Bogura has officially begun its journey as a city corporation. M R Islam Swadhin has been appointed as the first full-time administrator of the newly formed Bogura City Corporation.

A day after his appointment, Swadhin formally joined his new office on Tuesday (May 19).

Earlier, the Local Government Division under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives issued a gazette notification regarding the appointment on Sunday.

According to the notification, signed by Deputy Secretary Md Robiul Islam under the authority of the president, M R Islam Swadhin, a resident of the Maltinagar area in Bogura town, was appointed full-time administrator under subsection (1) of section 25A of the Local Government Ordinance, 2024. He will remain in the post until the city corporation is fully constituted or until further orders are issued.

Swadhin officially assumed office through a written letter addressed to the local government minister on Tuesday morning.

As per the notification, he will exercise the powers and responsibilities of the mayor of the newly formed city corporation.

Earlier last Thursday, a government gazette signed by Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hasan officially declared Bogura a city corporation.

The new city corporation has been formed with 21 wards by incorporating the existing Bogura municipality along with several adjacent and expanded areas of Sadar and Shajahanpur upazilas, including Fulbari, Nishindara, Katnarpara, Sutrapur, Malgram, Thonthonia, Maltinagar, Fuldighi and Betgari.

Welcoming the appointment, student wing leader Nahid said they were delighted that “Swadhin bhai” had become the first administrator and hoped he would address the city corporation’s longstanding shortcomings.

After assuming office, M R Islam Swadhin expressed gratitude to Tarique Rahman as well as the minister and state minister of local government.

“I will work together with the people to rebuild Bogura City Corporation in a new way,” he said.

The declaration of Bogura as a city corporation and the appointment of its first administrator have created enthusiasm among residents of the city and surrounding areas.

However, local observers believe that transforming the new city corporation into a fully functional urban body, ensuring planned infrastructure development, and expanding civic services will be the administrator’s main challenges.