The government has put on hold the proposal to form two new divisions — Padma and Meghna — to cut costs amid the current economic crunch.
“It will require massive fund investment. Since the government is not spending extra, it has withheld the proposal and sent it back for more scrutiny,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam at a press briefing after a meeting of National Implementation Committee for Administrative Reforms (NICAR).
The meeting — presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — was held at the premier’s office.
“Over Tk 1,000 crore is needed to form a division. For two divisions, a huge fund will be required,” he said.
The proposal was to form Padma division with five districts — Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Gopalganj, while the Meghna division would have six districts — Cumilla, Noakhali, Feni, Laxmipur, Brahmanbaria and Chandpur.
Currently, there are eight divisions in the country — Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Mymensingh, Barishal, Rangpur and Sylhet.
The cabinet secretary said NICAR approved the proposal of turning Satkhira’s Shyamnagar upazila into a municipality.
He said decisions were also taken to demarcate the boundaries of Bogura and Jamalpur districts and increase the boundary of Nandail municipality in Mymensingh.