Dhaka, Oct 12 (V7N) – Residents of Noakhali, along with those living in Dhaka and abroad, have intensified their call for the creation of a separate administrative division named “Noakhali Division.” Demonstrations and human chains were held on Saturday in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka and in Companiganj upazila of Noakhali district.
 
Participants at the Dhaka rally chanted slogans such as “Our only demand – We want Noakhali Division.” BNP Vice Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu attended as the chief guest. In his speech, he said Noakhali plays a vital role in the country’s blue economy, trade, and industry, contributing about 30 percent to Bangladesh’s GDP. He added that nearly 50 percent of Bangladesh’s total remittance comes from expatriates originating from the Greater Noakhali region.
 
“Our demand is not about division but about justice and logical necessity,” Bulu said. “Khaleda Zia is a proud daughter of Greater Noakhali, and if the BNP returns to power, Tarique Rahman will prioritize this region and declare Noakhali a new administrative division.”
 
Other speakers emphasized that a new division including Noakhali, Feni, Lakshmipur, and nearby districts is long overdue. They argued that the region has remained deprived of infrastructural development and proper government services in key sectors like education, healthcare, and transportation. They asserted that a separate division would help accelerate growth, improve governance, and ensure fair resource distribution.
 
In Companiganj upazila, a similar rally and human chain were held on Saturday at the upazila premises, followed by a procession through Basurhat town. BNP leader and Noakhali-5 candidate aspirant Fakhrul Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Principal Belayet Hossain, and several local BNP and Jamaat leaders, including Abdul Matin Liton, Mahmudur Rahman Ripon, and Mosharraf Hossain, joined the event.
 
Fakhrul Islam said that declaring Noakhali a separate division is essential for efficient administration and balanced regional development. “We may differ politically,” he said, “but on this issue, we stand united—there will be no compromise.”
 
Meanwhile, expatriates from Greater Noakhali also organized a demonstration in the United States, echoing the same demand. The human chain took place on Tuesday, October 7, at 7 p.m. local time at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights, New York City. Hundreds of expatriates joined the event, which was presided over by former Jubo Dal and community leader Masud Rana. Zakir H. Chowdhury attended as the chief guest, while Jahangir Sarwardy and Motahar Hossain were special guests. The event was moderated by Mosiur Rahman Rubel.
 
In his speech, Masud Rana warned the government against excluding Noakhali from the proposed Comilla Division. He issued a strong message to Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Adviser to the Ministries of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, and Youth and Sports, saying, “If any conspiracy is made to form Comilla Division excluding Noakhali, we will not remain silent. Expatriates in Dhaka are ready to surround the Secretariat if needed.”
 
Chief guest Zakir H. Chowdhury described Noakhali as a historically significant region that played an important role during the 1971 Liberation War. He stressed that administrative decentralization and improved public service delivery require the immediate declaration of Noakhali as a separate division.
 
Expatriates at the rally urged the government and relevant authorities to officially recognize Noakhali Division without delay.
 
Tensions, however, flared later on Saturday evening in Comilla when locals intercepted a bus carrying Noakhali protesters returning from Dhaka. The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. at Paduar Bazar on the Comilla–Noakhali highway. Comilla residents claimed that passengers on the bus had made offensive remarks about Comilla.
 
Comilla South Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Selim intervened and resolved the issue peacefully after discussions with both groups. Locals from both Comilla and Noakhali have been campaigning separately for divisional status, with occasional friction arising between the two movements.
 
Witnesses said the bus, displaying banners reading “We Want Noakhali Division,” drew the attention of local youths, leading to verbal exchanges and brief unrest before police restored order.
 
The growing movement—both at home and among expatriate communities—reflects a rising regional sentiment that Noakhali deserves independent administrative recognition to advance its socio-economic potential and address long-standing grievances over neglect and underdevelopment.
 
END/SMA/AJ/