TDS Desk:

The government has decided to bring the entire Purbachal New Town project under Dhaka district to streamline its administration.

The decision was taken today at the 121st meeting of the National Implementation Committee for Administrative Reorganisation (NICAR), chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat.

The committee approved five of the six proposals placed before it, including the administrative realignment of Purbachal and the creation of three new upazilas, Hasan Shiplu, deputy press secretary to the prime minister, told The Daily Star.

According to Cabinet Division sources, Purbachal New Town is currently spread across Dhaka, Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj and Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur, creating administrative complications.

Following a proposal from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, NICAR approved bringing the entire project area under Dhaka district.

The committee also approved the formation of three new upazilas: “Fatikchhari Uttar” in Chattogram with six unions carved out of Fatikchhari upazila; “Bangra” in Cumilla with 10 unions from Muradnagar upazila; and “Dakkhin Gafargaon” comprising eight unions under Pagla Police Station in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh.

NICAR also approved a proposal to split Hathazari Police Station in Chattogram and establish Halda Police Station.

A proposal to establish a separate Roads and Highways Department zone in Bogura by combining the Bogura, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, Naogaon and Sirajganj road divisions was withdrawn, as it falls outside NICAR’s jurisdiction, according to Road Transport Ministry sources. They said the matter would be decided internally by the ministry.