Iftekhar Alam Bishal : Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu has firmly declared that the headquarters of Northern Electricity Supply PLC (NESCO) will not be relocated from Rajshahi, amid growing debate over a proposal to shift the utility`s head office elsewhere.

"NESCO is not going anywhere. No institution will be moved out of Rajshahi. Institutions belonging to Rajshahi will remain in Rajshahi," the minister said while addressing a discussion marking the July Mass Uprising Day at the Rajshahi District Shilpakala Academy on Wednesday.

Referring to the controversy over the proposed relocation, Minu alleged that some individuals linked to the previous Awami League government were trying to create confusion over the issue.

"I don`t care who says what or which contractor makes what claim. This is Rajshahi, and Rajshahi`s institutions will stay here," he said.

Recalling his tenure as mayor in 1992, Minu said he had successfully resisted an attempt to relocate the headquarters of Bangladesh Railway`s Western Zone.

"When I was mayor, the then communications minister sought to move the Western Railway headquarters to Chattogram. I launched protests, organised rallies, and even declared that I would lie in front of the railway gate if necessary. The headquarters remained in Rajshahi, and it is still here today. Likewise, NESCO or any other institution will not be moved from Rajshahi," he said.

The minister added that public interest outweighed political office.

"My position as minister, MP or mayor is not more important than Rajshahi. I was born on this soil, and I will die here. There is nothing to fear when it comes to protecting Rajshahi`s interests," he said.

Paying tribute to those killed and injured during the July Mass Uprising, Minu expressed sympathy for the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

He also urged people to reject violence and work together for national development.

"This country belongs to all of us. The time has come to move beyond revenge, arson and vandalism. We must remain united, strengthen our patriotism and ensure that no anti-state force gets an opportunity to exploit the situation," he said.

The proposed relocation of NESCO`s headquarters has triggered widespread discussion and political reactions across Rajshahi in recent days.

Earlier, on August 3, Rajshahi Metropolitan BNP Senior Vice-President Md. Nazrul Huda raised the issue while responding to journalists during a sit-in programme demanding the removal of the Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi Medical University.

He criticised elected representatives from Rajshahi for remaining silent over the proposed relocation, saying that public representatives should stand united to protect the region`s interests. He warned that continued silence could ultimately invite public accountability.

A video of Huda`s remarks later went viral on Facebook, intensifying public debate over the future of NESCO`s headquarters. Two days later, Land Minister Minu publicly declared that the utility`s headquarters would remain in Rajshahi.