Staff Reporter:
The Noakhali Division Implementation Committee on Monday called for the creation of Noakhali Divi-sion comprising Noakhali, Feni, Lakshmipur and nearby districts.
At a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club, the committee urged Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to take necessary steps in this regard.
Committee Convener AKM Mozammel Haque said in a written statement that setting up Noakhali Divi-sion would bring administrative services closer to people living far from the capital.
He said the proposed division should include six districts — Noakhali, Feni, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Cumilla and Brahmanbaria — as they share strong geographical, cultural and economic links.
Criticising the proposal to form Cumilla Division, Haque said no public hearing was held in Noakhali, Feni or Lakshmipur and the people of these areas were not consulted.
He argued that Cumilla is too close to Dhaka to justify a separate division and that setting up high-level offices near the Indian border would be strategically unwise.
Haque said forming Noakhali Division would boost the coastal region’s economy by tapping into the potential of the blue economy, ports and special economic zones.
Former MP and BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu said Noakhali’s long history, large population and economic importance make the demand logical.
“If BNP comes to power, I will do my best to establish Noakhali Division,” he added.
Leaders of Noakhali Samity, including its President MA Khan Belal and General Secretary Abdul Mabud, were also present.
