New York, October 31, 2026: Abu Wahab Akanda Wahid, Member of Parliament for Mymensingh-4 (Sadar), has expressed his determination to end the longstanding neglect and deprivation of Mymensingh and transform the region into a self-reliant, modern, and developed area. Meanwhile, expatriate Mymensingh residents living in the United States have made a strong appeal to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to appoint him as a full minister.
The demands and development plans were highlighted at a reception organized by Mymensingh Abroad USA at a Bangladeshi restaurant in Queens, New York, on Saturday, October 31.
At the invitation of Mymensingh Abroad USA, Al Mamun, Editor-in-Chief of US Bangla Tribune, attended the event as a special guest. Other special guests included Dr. Imran, who traveled from Virginia, and Shohrab Sarkar, a member of the advisory council of Mymensingh Abroad.
Speakers at the event described Mymensingh as a historically significant region of Bangladesh, making substantial contributions to education, culture, agriculture, and human resource development. They noted that despite being home to some of the country's finest educational institutions, the region has long been neglected in terms of development and appointments to important national positions.
The expatriates stated, “It is extremely important to appoint a full minister from the Sadar constituency of a historically significant educational city like Mymensingh. Mymensingh has been neglected for generations. We strongly urge Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to appoint Abu Wahab Akanda Wahid as a full minister.”
According to the participants, an effective full minister could play a crucial role in advancing Mymensingh's development, improving infrastructure, strengthening education and healthcare, and addressing longstanding challenges.
MP Outlines Development Initiatives and Future Plans
During the reception, special guest Al Mamun, Editor-in-Chief of US Bangla Tribune, asked MP Abu Wahab Akanda Wahid about the development initiatives he had undertaken during the past eight months since assuming office and his plans for Mymensingh over the next four years.
In response, the MP said that the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was approaching the completion of its first eight months in office.
He stated, “The previous fascist government destroyed almost everything in this country. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought everyone's cooperation to help the country recover from the devastation.”
He said he was working with government support to repair Mymensingh's roads, restore its transportation network, revive its lost identity as an educational city, and rebuild the city.
Regarding faster and easier transportation between Mymensingh and Dhaka, the MP said discussions and assessments were underway involving 30 members of parliament from the Mymensingh Division, along with secretaries and deputy secretaries.
He said effective plans were being developed to reduce travel time between Mymensingh and Dhaka and address the city's traffic congestion.
Flyovers, Railway Relocation, and Improved Connectivity
Highlighting plans to construct flyovers to ease traffic congestion, the MP said there were also plans to relocate the railway tracks outside the city to make Mymensingh free from traffic congestion.
He also mentioned efforts to advance the construction of a bridge over the Brahmaputra River, emphasizing that such infrastructure would be vital to improving connectivity across Greater Mymensingh.
Referring to the longstanding neglect of Greater Mymensingh, the MP said that expected development plans for the region had not been implemented during the previous 17 years of fascist rule.
He noted that although there had been plans to establish an airport in Mymensingh, the previous government had failed to implement them.
Promising to establish an airport in Mymensingh city, he said the initiative would play an important role in bringing Greater Mymensingh under a modern and advanced transportation network.
Cold Storage Facility to Support Farmers
The MP also outlined plans to improve the economic conditions of farmers in Mymensingh.
He said a cold storage facility was planned on the other side of the Brahmaputra River. The facility would allow farmers to preserve their vegetables and receive fair prices for their agricultural products.
He expressed optimism that the initiative would play a significant role in protecting the interests of farmers in the agriculture-dependent Greater Mymensingh region.
Healthcare Challenges and Hospital Modernization
MP Abu Wahab Akanda Wahid also highlighted significant challenges in healthcare services across Mymensingh.
He said a large population of Greater Mymensingh depends on hospitals in the city for medical treatment. However, there is a substantial gap between hospital capacity and the number of patients seeking treatment.
According to information provided by the MP, only 800 beds of a 1,000-bed hospital are currently operational. Meanwhile, an average of 4,200 to 4,300 patients arrive daily from different areas of Greater Mymensingh to receive medical treatment.
As a result, maintaining the quality of healthcare services has become increasingly difficult. He also pointed out shortages of essential medicines.
He said initiatives were underway to modernize and reorganize Mymensingh Medical College Hospital to ensure advanced medical services at its full 1,000-bed capacity.
He also promised to establish additional hospitals on the other side of the Brahmaputra River to ensure healthcare access for patients across Greater Mymensingh and reduce the excessive burden on Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
He expressed hope that implementing these initiatives would improve healthcare quality across Greater Mymensingh and substantially address the region's longstanding healthcare challenges.
Dr. Imran Highlights Expatriates' Love for Their Homeland
Special guest Dr. Imran, who traveled from Virginia, spoke about the emotions, affection, and sense of responsibility that expatriate Mymensingh residents feel toward their birthplace.
He stated, “No matter where we live in the world, Mymensingh remains a special place in our hearts. Our roots are in Mymensingh, and our love belongs to its people.”
Expressing his hopes for the region's development, he said expatriate Mymensingh residents want to see further progress in education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and civic amenities.
He added, “May today's gathering further strengthen the mutual communication and relationships among expatriate Mymensingh residents. I sincerely thank Mymensingh Abroad USA for organizing such a wonderful event.”
Dr. Imran emphasized that despite geographical distances, Mymensingh always holds a special place in the hearts of expatriates. He called upon everyone to work together for the development of their homeland.
Shoraf Sarkar Emphasizes Political and Developmental Deprivation
Shoraf Sarkar, a member of the advisory council of Mymensingh Abroad, highlighted the region's longstanding political and developmental deprivation.
He said a former female leader of the Jatiya Party had won elections five times but had failed to deliver the expected development for Mymensingh. As a result, he observed, the people of the region had long been deprived of development and essential civic amenities.
Praising MP Abu Wahab Akanda Wahid, Shohrab Sarkar stated, “Wahab is a blessing for the people of Mymensingh. He treats people of all religions equally. His secular outlook has further strengthened harmony and unity among the people of Mymensingh.”
He noted that the MP enjoys substantial support from members of the Hindu community and received a significant number of votes from them in the election.
Shoraf Sarkar said the bonds of mutual respect, affection, and communal harmony must remain strong in the future.
Calling for equal rights and dignity for people of all religions, he urged the MP to uphold the principle that “Religion belongs to individuals, but the state belongs to everyone.”
He emphasized that people of all faiths and backgrounds must work together for the development of Mymensingh and the welfare of its people.
Farid Ahmed Praises MP Wahab and Calls for Stronger Diaspora Engagement
Speaking about Mymensingh's education, heritage, and development, Farid Ahmed, the current president of Mymensingh Abroad USA Inc., highly praised MP Wahab.
He stated, “Wahab Bhai is a truly kind-hearted person. His sincerity, humanitarian qualities, and love for people are genuinely admirable. I wish him good health, a long life, and success in every aspect of his life.”
He further said that wherever the people of Mymensingh live, whether inside Bangladesh or abroad, they maintain a deep love and sense of responsibility toward their beloved homeland.
He emphasized that expatriate Mymensingh residents living in the United States and other parts of the world are particularly interested in contributing to the development of their district, including education, healthcare, and humanitarian initiatives.
At the event, he called upon MP Wahab to always extend a helping hand to expatriate Mymensingh residents.
He said stronger relationships and mutual cooperation between expatriates and elected representatives could accelerate the district's development.
Farid Ahmed expressed optimism that Mymensingh could become a modern, prosperous, and developed district by utilizing its heritage, talent, and potential.
He said collective initiatives involving elected representatives, local residents, and expatriate Mymensingh communities could become the driving force behind the region's future progress.
MP Seeks Cooperation from Expatriates
Meanwhile, the MP sought cooperation from expatriates to transform Greater Mymensingh into a self-reliant and modern region.
He said the development of Mymensingh was not solely the responsibility of the government; local residents and expatriates also had important roles to play.
He expressed his determination to utilize the experience, investment, and cooperation of expatriates to transform Greater Mymensingh into a developed and self-reliant region.
At the reception, expatriate Mymensingh residents pledged to work together for the development and progress of their homeland.
They said effective measures to improve education, healthcare, transportation, and agriculture in Mymensingh were urgently needed.
Their expectation from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is that Abu Wahab Akanda Wahid will be appointed a full minister to end Mymensingh's longstanding neglect.
The reception highlighted not only the MP's development plans but also the expectations of expatriates, their love for their homeland, and the importance of communal harmony.
The expatriates expressed their hope that Mymensingh's longstanding deprivation would come to an end, new horizons of development would emerge, and the region would become self-reliant, modern, and prosperous.
Mymensingh's Rich Educational Heritage Strengthens the Case for Ministerial Representation
Mymensingh is one of Bangladesh's most historically significant regions in education, culture, intellectual development, and the nurturing of talented generations.
The presence of historic and renowned educational institutions, specialized higher education centers, and teacher-training institutions has given the district a unique position on Bangladesh's educational map.
To further advance this rich educational heritage and enormous potential, the leadership and representation of a minister from Mymensingh Sadar have become an increasingly important demand.
A Glorious History of Education
Mymensingh has a proud and distinguished educational history.
Mymensingh Zilla School, established in 1853; Bidyamoyee Government Girls' High School, established in 1873; and Ananda Mohan Government College, established as a college in 1908, are shining examples of the region's educational heritage.
For generations, these institutions have produced countless talented students who continue to contribute to important sectors across the country.
A Strong Foundation in Higher Education
Mymensingh's position in higher education is even more firmly established.
Bangladesh Agricultural University, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh Engineering College, and Community Based Medical College are important centers of higher education and research in the region.
These institutions contribute to the country's progress in agriculture, medicine, engineering, science, and technology.
Another source of pride for the district is Mymensingh Girls' Cadet College, recognized as Bangladesh's first female cadet college.
Bidyamoyee Government Girls' High School, Muminunnesa Government Women's College, and the Women's Teachers' Training College have also made significant contributions to the advancement of women's education.
A Major Center for Teacher Training
Mymensingh also plays an important role in teacher development.
Government Teachers' Training College, Women's Teachers' Training College, Primary Teachers' Training Institute (PTI), Higher Secondary Teachers' Training Institute (HSTTI), and the National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE) have made important contributions to education and teacher training.
In addition, Mymensingh Government College, Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam College, Nasirabad Collegiate School, Mymensingh Girls' Cadet College, Mymensingh Polytechnic Institute, Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Fisheries College, Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Fine Arts Institute, and Mymensingh Nursing College play significant roles in expanding educational opportunities across the region.
Mymensingh's Students Excel Nationally and Internationally
Students from Mymensingh continue to demonstrate their talent, qualifications, and achievements not only within the district but also at national and international levels.
The success of people from Mymensingh in medicine, engineering, teaching, research, administration, journalism, and various other professions has further enhanced the district's reputation.
Students from different parts of the country also come to study at Mymensingh's educational institutions and achieve success.
As a result, Mymensingh is no longer simply a district; it has become a major center for education and intellectual development.
Why Ministerial Representation Matters
Given Mymensingh's rich educational heritage, large population, agricultural and economic potential, dependence on healthcare services across Greater Mymensingh, and rapidly expanding urbanization, ministerial leadership and representation from the district headquarters are particularly important.
The people of Mymensingh expect a minister to play an effective role in bringing the district's interests to the government's policymaking level.
These priorities include:
Improving education and healthcare.
Strengthening transportation and connectivity.
Expanding employment opportunities.
Promoting industrialization.
Advancing modern urban management.
Ensuring long-term development planning.
The presence of a minister is not merely a matter of political prestige. It can serve as an important means of advancing long-term development plans, infrastructure improvements, and fulfilling the expectations of the people.
However, alongside such representation, qualified leadership, effective initiatives, and accountability to the public are essential.
Considering Mymensingh's educational heritage and the potential of its talented younger generations, the district has the capacity to progress much further.
To accelerate that progress, the people of Mymensingh increasingly expect a qualified and people-oriented minister from Mymensingh Sadar who can effectively represent their interests.
Mymensingh has already advanced in education and intellectual development. Now it is time to move forward through development, leadership, and stronger representation at the national level.
The people of Mymensingh have one central expectation: to bring the historically neglected region back into the mainstream of national development and establish a self-reliant Mymensingh.