A former scientific officer of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), Faria Azad who is studying abroad has alleged that she was subjected to harassment and derogatory discussions by some of her colleagues in a WhatsApp group.
Faria said she had received screenshots of what she described as “indecent and distasteful” conversations about her in the group and shared the screenshots with UNB.
She also emailed his complaints to the chairman of the authority to investigate the issue.
She complained against Chinmoy Pramanik, food safety officer in Rajshahi; Abu Naser Mohammad Shafiullah, food safety officer in Jamalpur; Syed Sarfraz Hossain, food safety officer in Sylhet Metropolitan; Md Lokman Hossain, food safety officer in Rangpur; Md Shakib Hossain, food safety officer in Moulvibazar; and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a drug supervisor at the Directorate General of Drug Administration’s headquarters.
She has also raised the issue publicly through her social media account, naming several current and former BFSA officials and colleagues.
In her social media post, Faria expressed her disappointment over the alleged discussions and said she now understood why a former BFSA colleague, Laboni, had removed her former colleagues from her social media friends list after leaving the organisation.
“Today I understand why she did that. She was the wiser one,” Faria wrote.
Addressing Md Sakib Hossain, she said she could not recall ever causing him any harm and claimed that she had helped him about six months ago when he sought assistance regarding a scholarship.
She also questioned comments allegedly made by Lokman Hossain, saying she had never had any disagreement with him and that she remained on his Facebook friends list.
Faria criticised another colleague, Sarfaraz Sunny, over what she described as comments concerning the reasons for her divorce.
“Extra-marital affair is not the only reason people get divorced,” she wrote, urging him not to make comments about others without knowing the facts.
She also called on the BFSA employees who remain on her Facebook friends list to remove themselves, saying she did not wish to maintain contact with those involved in the alleged discussions.
Referring to the screenshots, Faria questioned Chinmay Pramanik about allegedly sharing her photograph in the WhatsApp group and asked him why her picture had been posted there.
She also mentioned several other individuals in her post, including Mohammad Ali Zinnah and former BFSA employee Shakil Ahmed, making comments about their alleged involvement in or connection with the discussions.
Faria said she was considering sending the screenshots to the higher authorities so that the matter could be investigated and those responsible could face consequences.
“I am thinking about sending the screenshots to the higher authority. They need to go through some kind of consequences for their … conversations. That's why I posted this publicly,” she wrote.
The allegations could not immediately be independently verified. It was also not immediately clear whether the BFSA had initiated any inquiry into the matter.
"It is terrifying to realize how many 'educated' men walk among us wearing masks of decency. It’s scary to think that any female colleague could be the target of such disrespect. they act so respectful to your face, it really makes you question who you can actually trust," another female colleague of hers Farzia Huq said.
"Md Lokman Hossain, Md Sakib Hossain and Syed Sarfaraj Hossain were apologizing for their act but they would never apologize if this conversation was never out in the public. That's why I don't think they deserve an apology," she said.
She also filed a complaint against the Assistant Director of Department of Narcotics Control Bangladesh in Joyopurhat Shakil Ahammed to the respective authority.
UNB verified the identities of all participants allegedly involved in the dis discussions.
Mehedi Hasan, a friend and former departmental batchmate of Azad, raised the allegations in a social media post , saying screenshots of conversations in the group showed what he described as “highly indecent, sexually suggestive and derogatory” comments about Azad.
According to Hasan, Azad completed her higher studies at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute and is currently working as a toxicology specialist. She previously served as a scientific officer at BFSA.
He alleged that some officials used Azad’s personal photographs in the WhatsApp group and made offensive comments about her appearance, clothing and personal life.
Hasan called on the BFSA and the Directorate General of Drug Administration to investigate the allegations and take appropriate departmental and legal action if the claims are substantiated.
He also referred to the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979, the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, and relevant High Court directives concerning sexual harassment in workplaces.
Azad has publicly spoken out against the alleged harassment and shared information concerning the incident on social media, according to Hasan.
Hasan urged the BFSA, DGDA and the Ministry of Public Administration to form an impartial inquiry committee and ensure a safe, respectful and harassment-free working environment for women.
He said allegations of this nature should be investigated through due process and that those found responsible should face appropriate disciplinary and legal action.
Food Safety Officer of Sylhet Syed Sarfaraz Hossain denied the allegations against him.
Abu Naser Mohammad Shafiullah, food safety officer in Jamalpur also told UNB he was not part of this crime.
BFSA Chairman Md Shafiqul Islam said he has received a complaint regarding the matter and is taking it seriously.
He said the complaint would be investigated properly and that strict action would be taken against those concerned if the allegations are found to be true.
He also said necessary measures would be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.