TDS Desk:

The interim government has moved forward with an initiative to amend existing laws for renaming three prominent rural development academies in Bangladesh.

The names of Gopalganj’s “Bangabandhu Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development Academy,” Jamalpur’s “Sheikh Hasina Rural Development Academy,” and “Sheikh Russell Rural Development Academy” of Rangpur are set to be changed as part of a government effort to align the naming conventions of similar institutions under the Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives.

In a meeting held on Thursday, at the office of the chief adviser in Tejgaon, the Advisory Council, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, gave both policy and final approval to the draft ordinances for the name changes.

According to the Cabinet Division, the name of Gopalganj’s “Bangabandhu Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development Academy” will be changed to “Rural Development Academy, Gopalganj.” This decision aims to align the naming of the institution with other similar academies, such as Bogra’s Rural Development Academy and the Bangladesh Rural Development Academy (BRDA).

The Bangabandhu Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development Academy (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 has been approved, pending vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division.

In addition, the name of Jamalpur’s “Sheikh Hasina Rural Development Academy” will be updated to “Rural Development Academy, Jamalpur.”

The Sheikh Hasina Rural Development Academy, Jamalpur (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 has also received approval, pending the same vetting process.

Lastly, the name of “Sheikh Russell Rural Development Academy, Rangpur” will be changed to “Rural Development Academy, Rangpur.”

The draft for the Sheikh Russell Rural Development Academy, Rangpur (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 has been given final approval, again pending vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division.