Savar to be upgraded to country's 13th City Corporation

The government has decided to upgrade Savar Municipality to the country's 13th City Corporation, said Cabinet Division’s Field Administration Coordination Wing following approval from the Chief Advisor.

The decision was confirmed through a notification issued by the Cabinet Division’s Field Administration Coordination Wing following approval from the Chief Advisor.

It was confirmed in a letter signed on October 12 by Md. Mahmud Ullah Maruf, Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet Division.

With this decision, the administrative functions of Savar municipality and its union councils will be abolished. The proposal for this change was based on a confidential biweekly report prepared in September by the Divisional Commissioner, highlighting the rapid urbanisation of the area.

The proposal noted that Savar has become a large urban area due to unplanned growth of industries, educational institutions, businesses and population density. The existing municipality lacks the resources and manpower to meet the growing civic needs.

In Ashulia, numerous garment factories, workers’ settlements and residential areas have developedurbanisation but union councils are unable to provide essential services such as planned urban development, waste management, traffic control, health and education facilities, safe water supply, or environmental protection. Consequently, residents frequently face traffic congestion, poor sanitation and infrastructural problems.

Similarly, Keraniganj is experiencing rapid, unplanned urbanization due to the expansion of Dhaka and population pressure. Without municipal or city corporation-level governance, basic civic services like roads, drainage, water supply, waste management and healthcare remain inadequate. Planned development could transform Keraniganj into a modern and vibrant suburb of the capital.

Given these circumstances, the government approved the proposal to form Savar City Corporation by merging Savar municipality and Ashulia and to upgrade Keraniganj to a Class-A municipality or bring it under South City Corporation.

Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury said the decision is groundbreaking and it will help address the long-standing development deficits and neglect in these areas, ensuring residents receive the citizen services and recognition they deserve.

OF/NSA