Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday inaugurated the newly formed Matamuhuri upazila and Matamuhuri Police Station in Cox’s Bazar.

The Prime Minister formally unveiled the foundation stone of the upazila and inaugurated the police station in the evening.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shah Alam and other ministers and lawmakers were present at the ceremony.

The government declared Matamuhuri an upazila and published the official gazette in fulfilment of an election pledge made by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed during a public rally ahead of the national election

According to official sources, the formation of Matamuhuri upazila was approved at the 120th meeting of the National Implementation Committee for Administrative Reorganisation (NICAR) held on May 7.

The new upazila has been created with seven unions in the southern part of Chakaria upazila – Badarkhali, Purbabarabheola, Paschimbarabheola, Saharbil, Bheolamanikchar, Demusia and Konakhali.

Situated on the banks of the Matamuhuri River, the upazila covers an area of 143.8 square kilometres.

Earlier, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of newly formed Pekua municipality in the district, reaffirming the government’s commitment to local development and administrative expansion.

He laid the foundation stone of the municipality in the afternoon at the Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Upokulio College in Pekua upazila during a day-long visit to the coastal district.

He was accompanied by his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and his wife Hasina Ahmed.

The ceremony was followed by prayers and munajat.

After the inauguration, the Prime Minister greeted the people gathered at the venue by waving at them.

Mir Shah Alam, lawmakers and senior officials were present during the programme.

On May 17 this year, the current government published the final gazette declaring Pekua Sadar union as Pekua municipality.