Dr Shafiqur Rahman spoke at Paduar Bazar Bishwa Road area during Jamaat-led Dhaka-Chattogram long march. Photo : BSS

CUMILLA, Sept 05, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir and opposition leader in the parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman today urged the government to declare immediately Cumilla as a division. 

The opposition leader made this call while addressing a roadside rally during Dhaka-Chattogram long march by Jamaat-led 11 party alliances at Paduar Bazar Bishwa road area here today.
He said the people of Cumilla is demanding for long to establish division in Cumilla as the Sylhet division was implemented in 1994 but the demand of establishing division in Cumilla was raised at that time.

So, it is necessary to take effective measure to implement Cumilla division, he said urging the government to declare Cumilla division immediately.

Pointing out the demand of the people of Noakhali for Noakhali division, Shafiqur Rahaman said, “As the people of Cumilla have been demanding the division since 1994, so, the Cumilla division should implement first.”

On the demand for establishing an airport in Cumilla, the Jamaat Amir said necessary steps should be taken for feasibility study of the airport in Cumilla.

At present, the people of Cumilla need to go Chattogram for administrative purpose of Export Processing Zone (EPZ). So the government must give priority to establish Cumilla division, he said adding if the Cumilla becomes division the people of this area will get necessary administrative services from their own areas.

The long march which has been started from the capital will go to all the divisional headquarters as the programme has been started to press six point demands.

Chaired by Cumilla city Jamaat Amir Quazi Din Mohammad, the rally also was attended by National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam MP, Liberal Democratic Party President Dr Col. (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir-Bikram, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Amir Allama Mamunul Huq, deputy leader of the opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e Amir Dr Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher MP, Jamaat-e-Islami central secretary general Professor Mia Golam Parwar, AB Party Chairman Mozibur Rahman Monzu, NCP’s chief coordinator Nasir Uddin Patwary, Jamaat-e-Islami central assistant secretary general Maulana ATM Masum and Liberal Demoratic Party’s acting general secretary Billal Hossen Miaji.