Bangladesh-Türkiye Joint Drone Factory to Be Set Up in Bogura, Says State Minister Mir Shahe Alam

A joint drone manufacturing facility between Bangladesh and Türkiye will be established in Bogura, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has said, citing a statement made by the Prime Minister in Parliament.

Speaking at a dialogue organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat Media Centre on Thursday, the minister said Bogura’s development activities would be carried out in line with the Prime Minister’s directives and the government’s nationwide development agenda.

He alleged that development in Bogura had remained stalled for years due to political retaliation.

Mir Shahe Alam said the government is also upgrading Bogura Airport into an international-standard facility, where the country’s first Bangladesh Air Force base for the northern region has been approved. He added that newly acquired fighter aircraft for the Bangladesh Air Force would be stationed at the Bogura air base.

Highlighting what he described as years of neglect, the minister said that despite having an international-standard stadium since 2006, Bogura had not hosted any international sporting events.

Responding to criticism over the naming of four newly created administrative units, he said several large unions had been divided to improve local governance. He added that three of the newly created unions were later renamed following the Prime Minister’s directives and based on the preferences of local residents.

The minister said Bogura had long suffered from inadequate infrastructure, including poor roads, bridges and culverts, while residents had also been deprived of employment opportunities and key government postings. He said he had been working to address these development gaps since taking office.

He noted that the long-abandoned Bogura University is being transformed into a multidisciplinary institution through new legislation. Once approved, the university will be renamed Bogura Science and Technology University.

Referring to transport infrastructure, Mir Shahe Alam said work on the long-awaited 72-kilometre railway connection between Sirajganj and Bogura has begun. He said the Development Project Proposal (DPP) has been approved and land acquisition completed. The rail link is expected to reduce travel time and save around Tk 122 crore by eliminating the need for alternative road infrastructure. He added that it would benefit passengers and freight movement across 11 northern districts.

Addressing journalists, the minister said he had risen from grassroots politics without holding any major national political position. He urged the media to give him time to prove his capabilities instead of judging him prematurely.

He also said he feels comfortable working in his ministry because major decisions are taken through consultation and official files receive final approval from the minister, ensuring administrative accountability.

On local government elections, Mir Shahe Alam said funds have been allocated in the new fiscal year’s budget to conduct elections at all five tiers of local government. He added that the Election Commission has already started preliminary preparations for the polls.

The minister also addressed criticism involving his family, saying his son voluntarily stepped down from a position at the Bangladesh Cricket Board to avoid controversy. He claimed that members of his family had also faced legal cases and harassment in the past.

Responding to reports about his personal wealth, Mir Shahe Alam said all his assets were disclosed in his election affidavit, which is available on the Election Commission’s website. He alleged that some reports ignored those disclosures and falsely suggested that his wealth had increased eightfold after becoming a state minister.

He urged journalists to publish his full statements rather than quoting isolated remarks. Saying he was not worried about criticism, the minister added that public scrutiny had helped introduce him to the people, who would ultimately judge his performance.