Assault on UNO Allegedly by AL Men

Govt staffs keep off office

12 April 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Kushtia

Government officers and employees at Kumarkhali upazila headquarters yesterday abstained from work protesting assault on upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) allegedly by some activists of the Ruling Awami League and its front organisations. According to upazila administration sources, the incident took place on Thursday as UNO Nuruzzaman, also the Chairman of Kumarkhali Degree College, fixed a date for appointing a principal for the college without consulting local lawmaker Sultana Tarun. At least 12 activists of AL and its front organisations entered the UNO office and beat him up. They also ransacked the office and threatened to kill the UNO, sources said. Before the incident, the lawmaker phoned UNO and warned him of serious consequences for his action. The UNO filed a case with Kumarkhali Police Station the same day against nine ruling party men. Police have so far arrested two of the accused. They are Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Kumarkhali upazila unit president Rabiul Awal and upazila Swechchasebok League general secretary Md Abdur Rafiq. All government officers and employees at the upazila headquarters yesterday urged the higher authorities to ensure their security and demanded immediate arrest of the persons involved in the Thursday's incident. Bangladesh Administrative Service Association Kushtia unit in a press release yesterday condemned the incident and demanded punishment to the culprits.