'Harassed' rly female official hospitalised

A female official of Bangladesh Railway's (BR) estate department in Pakshey divisional office landed in Pakshey Railway Hospital on Sunday, following alleged mental and physical torture at the office by her bosses.

The BR authorities have formed an inquiry committee to investigate the matter.

The 35-year-old victim of Bhodra area of Rajshahi is a draftsman of Pakshey estate office of BR.

Talking with this correspondent at the hospital yesterday, the victim said, “Shortly after I joined the office one year ago, my boss Divisional Estate Officer (DEO) Md Eunus Ali sir gave me an illicit proposal. As I rejected it, he started misbehaving with me.”

“My immediate boss Circle Estate Officer (CEO) Md Rafiul Islam also harassed me often in the name of official work.

“On Sunday, the CEO uttered rude words to me at the end of the office time. At one stage he forcibly took me to the DEO sir's room where I fainted in fear. Later my office colleagues took me to Pakshey Railway Hospital,” she said.

Contacted, DEO Eunus Ali said, “ The female staff is mentally and physically weak due to a miscarriage around four months ago and she often fails to perform duty properly.”

“If superiors guide her, she takes it as an insult and often creates chaos in the office. Recently I have recommended for her transfer from the office,” he said.

Pakshey Divisional Railway Manager Ashim Kumar said a three-member inquiry committee headed by the divisional estate officer was formed yesterday, with instructions to investigate the incident within three working days.