Dagonbhuiyan Celebrates Historic First Ministerial Appointment

For the residents of Dagonbhuiyan, the year 2026 marks the end of a 54-year wait. Since the independence of Bangladesh, this upazila under the Feni-3 constituency had yearned for a representative from its own soil to hold a seat in the National Parliament. On Tuesday, 17 February, that dream was not only realised but surpassed, as Abdul Awal Mintoo was sworn in as a full Minister in the newly formed cabinet.

A Decisive Mandate

In the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Abdul Awal Mintoo, the Vice Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a titan of the country’s industrial sector, secured a resounding victory. Running in the Feni-3 (Dagonbhuiyan-Sonagazi) seat, Mintoo garnered 157,425 votes, comfortably defeating his nearest rival, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr Mohammad Fakhruddin Manik, who received 108,163 votes.

The victory margin of 49,262 votes underscored a clear public mandate for change and local representation. Historically, although Feni-3 has seen various parties win, the successful candidates almost exclusively hailed from the neighbouring Sonagazi upazila, leaving Dagonbhuiyan feeling politically sidelined for over half a century.

From Business Magnate to Environment Minister

Abdul Awal Mintoo’s appointment as the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has been greeted with jubilant celebrations. On Wednesday morning, the streets of Dagonbhuiyan were filled with processions led by the Juba Dal and Chhatra Dal, with sweetmeats distributed amongst the public to commemorate the historic occasion.

Mintoo brings a wealth of administrative and leadership experience to the role:

Industrial Leadership: A two-time President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).

Philanthropy: Instrumental in establishing numerous schools, colleges, and madrasas in Dagonbhuiyan.

Political Lineage: His father, the late Haji Shafi Ullah, was a two-time Upazila Chairman, and his brother, Akbar Hossain, serves as the Dagonbhuiyan Municipality Mayor.

Constituency Overview: Feni-3

The Feni-3 constituency is a diverse geographical and demographic area, as detailed below:

High Expectations for Regional Development

The locals hold high expectations for their new “native” minister. The northern regions of the upazila have long suffered from inadequate road infrastructure and a lack of educational facilities for women. Furthermore, chronic waterlogging remains a primary concern for the agricultural community.

Constituents are optimistic that Mintoo’s global perspective as a businessman and his new authority as a cabinet minister will facilitate “sustainable and fitting” solutions for the drainage issues and boost the cultural and educational landscape of Feni-3. As Akbar Hossain, the Upazila BNP Convener, noted: “The people of Dagonbhuiyan have faced regional discrimination for decades; we believe this victory will finally usher in an era of balanced development.”