UZ Chairman’s ‘misdeeds’: Govt offices ask DC to take action
All 18 government offices in Lalmonirhat's Aditmari upazila have filed a complaint with the deputy commissioner about the upazila chairman's alleged indecent and abusive behaviour to officers.
In the complaint submitted to the Lalmonirhat DC on Thursday night, the offices said carrying out normal official activities has become impossible due to threats from upazila Chairman Farooq Imrul Kayes.
They prayed to the DC to take necessary administrative actions against the chairman as his activities "clearly deviated from Upazila Parishad Act and are harmful to the country".
This newspaper has obtained a copy of the complaint.
According to the two-page complaint, Farooq puts pressure on officers to work in defiance of related rules and regulations during the implementation of government allowance programmes under the social safety net.
He has been doing so since taking office last year, it added.
A former member of Aditmari upazila Awami League, Farooq won the upazila chairman election as an independent candidate. He contested the polls independently after being denied nomination by the ruling AL.
The complaint said the upazila chairman during the monthly coordination meeting at the UNO's office on Thursday demanded to be given a part of Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) and maternity allowance beyond related rules.
As UNO Muhammad Mansur Uddin mentioned that the list of beneficiaries would be prepared in accordance with the related rules, the upazila chairman became angered and walked out of the meeting, it added.
After the meeting, its participants noticed that the upazila chairman tasked some men with uninstalling a CCTV camera adjacent to the UNO's office. As the UNO wanted to take a photo of the incident and asked Farooq why the camera was being uninstalled, the latter became angry and hurled abuse at the UNO, read the complaint.
Upazila Engineer Sohel Rana said it became difficult for them to continue discharging duties in Aditmari due to the upazila chairman's threats, indecent, and abusive behaviour.
Upazila Women Affairs Officer Rashida Begum said it would be tough for them to carry out their responsibilities if the higher authorities did not take necessary steps in this regard.
UNO Mansur Uddin said, "We believe that the higher authorities will investigate the complaint and take necessary actions in this regard."
Contacted, Chairman Farooq denied all the allegations, saying that the officers of the upazila administration were angry with him as he wanted to know about the progress of all development activities carried out in the last financial year.
If the authorities conduct a proper investigation into the allegations, it will reveal irregularities and corruption by the officers, he claimed.
Lalmonirhat DC Md Abu Jafor said a deputy secretary was asked to investigate the complaint.
Legal actions will be taken in this regard once the investigation is completed, the DC added.
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