Fakirhat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Bagherhat district was accused of slapping and harassing a former vice chairman of Fakirhat Upazila Parishad on Wednesday. The victim--Md. Mizanur Rahman--was taken to Fakirhat Upazila Health Complex with serious injuries in his eyes and ears with doctors sending him to Khulna Medical College Hospital for better treatment. But UNO Md. Monowar Hossain denied the allegations. Rahman was vice chairman of Fakirhat Upazila Parishad twice. He is also a former organising secretary of Fakirhat Upazila Awami League and a member of district Awami League. Rahman said: “I was going to my cattle farm on my motorcycle when it collided slightly with the UNO’s car. Following some altercation with the driver, the UNO came out from the car and slapped me on the road.” Read more: Attack on doctor: Medical services at Khulna hospitals hampered as physicians go on 24hr work abstention “He even forcefully took me to his car and harassed me inside,” the former vice chairman added.   Local politicians and residents expressed their anger and demanded strict punishment of the UNO. Bagerhat’s Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Azizur Rahman said there was a misunderstanding between the former Upazila Vice Chairman and the UNO. Upazila Parishad Chairman has been assigned to resolve the matter, the DC said.

Ruling Awami League MP elected from Thakurgaon-2 Constituency M Dabirul Islam on Thursday alleged that Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNOs) are running their areas where the MPs are remaining neglected. He made the complaint that the attitude of the government officials is that the country became independent by fighting on their words and the people's representatives are uninvited people. Dabirul Islam made these allegations while participating in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the President's speech. He said that currently the public representatives cannot even give a blanket from the relief fund which is a government relief. "We (MPs) are at the mercy of UNOs and government officials." Read more: Stay away from corruption, serve people, President asks DCs The AL MP said: “Currently the bureaucracy... I don't know how it is in other areas. In my district and in my area, I have seen UNO saheeb doing everything. The idea is that the country was liberated by fighting on their words. We are strangers to them.” He claimed that the situation is not very different in other areas. “There are many in this Parliament whose areas are ruled by government officials. We are just elected. They are the owners of the real power.”

A school headmaster, UNO and local journalist were among a group of villagers allegedly beaten up by local Awami League and Jubo League leaders as he protested their illegally occupying a fish enclosure in Wazirpur upazila of Barishal on Friday, said police. According to the locals, Wazirpur upazila Awami League Organising Secretary Mashiur Mia and his younger brother Jubo League leader Monir Mia have been cultivating fish occupying fish enclosures belonging to others, including the school teacher, in Patibari village of the upazila. The victim, Ujjwal Kumar Mandal, headmaster of Rajihar Secondary School in Agailjhara upazila, said the local owners, including him, were protesting the illegal grabbing of the enclosure on Friday afternoon. Read: 7 injured in clash between rival BCL factions at Barishal University “Enraged by this, Monir and Mashiur beat me and UP member Amal Mandal,” he said, adding that they also vandalised Ujjwal’s shop and looted Tk 5 lakh. They also assaulted a local journalist, he said. In this regard, Mohammad Momen, inspector of Wazirpur police station, said legal action will be taken after investigating the matter.

The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday directed the authorities concerned to withdraw Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Officer in-Charge (OC) of Kalkini Upazila in Madaripur for their failure to maintain a proper election atmosphere. The Commission also asked to fill the posts of two new officers in their places. The directive came in line with the clause-327 (4) of the Election Officers (Special Provision) Act, 1991 and the section-3 of the Local Government (Union Parishad) Election Rules, 2010, said a EC press release. The EC earlier postponed the election to Purba Enayetnagar Union Parishad in Kalkini after some miscreants barred a chairman aspirant from submitting the nomination paper and assaulted the election’s  returning officer physically on May 17 last. The EC has given the directives over the withdrawal of the two officers following the reports of the Madaripur deputy commissioner, superintendent of police and the returning officer. Besides, the commission has decided to ask chairman aspirant Mahbub Alam in Purba Enayetnagar Union election to show cause as to why the legal action would not be taken against him for offenses like obstructing in the submission of nomination paper and creating chaos during the submission of nomination papers. Now the Commission will arrange the polls in the Union Parishad on June 15 next. As per the reschedule, the deadline for nomination submission is May 23, while the date for scrutinizing nomination papers is May 24 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 29. Also read: Poll panel still lacks capacity to use EVMs in all 300 seats, says CEC

A  fire broke out in the office of Sarishabari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) in Jamalpur on Sunday morning. The fire gutted almost all the documents and furniture on the third floor of the office. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.  According to fire service sources, ansar members who were on duty at the UNO office noticed fire around 7 am and informed them. Two units of Sarishabari Fire Service and Civil Defense rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control. READ: Lalbagh plastic factory fire doused Sarishabari UNO Upma Farisa said, “In the morning, ansar members informed me about the fire on the third floor of the office. Later, two units of fire service brought the fire under control.” Mizanur Rahman, senior station officer (in-charge) of Sarishabari Fire Service, said that the origin of the fire and the extent of damage could not be ascertained yet.

The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Sunaganj’s Shalla has been suspended on charges of corruption. The district administration on Thursday issued UNO Md. Al Muktadir Hossain’s suspension order after an investigation regarding corruption in the government construction projects, including Haor dams, rehabilitation houses, Upazila Parishad shops and lease of canals. READ: Suspended Dewanganj mayor Shahnewaz held with drugs from Dhaka hotel Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jahangir Hossain said that UNO Al Muktadir of Shalla has been suspended. Dirai Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Arup Ratan Singh has been given additional responsibility as the UNO of Shalla. He also said that a three-member inquiry committee investigated the allegations that chairmen brought against the UNO and found his involvement. READ: Assaulting education officer: Dewanganj municipality mayor suspended On Monday, the chairmen of four unions of Shalla Upazila lodged a written complaint to Sunamganj DC alleging irregularities in the PIC formation list for Haor saving dam project.

A student of class nine took over Panchagarh Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s office for an hour as a symbol of empowerment of girl child on National Girl Child Day. Sadia Binte Awlad Ahona is a student of Panchagarh Government Girls’ High School and member of district’s Child Parliament who took over the responsibility from Panchagarh UNO Arif Hossain. The initiative was taken by Non-Government Organization Plan International and National Children Task Force (NCTF) to encourage empowerment of women, its implementation and spreading awareness on rights of women and children. READ: BUET team becomes Asia West Champion in Moscow programming contest The takeover is a part of the global #GirlsTakeover, a signature activity of Plan International. For one hour the whole sadar upazila administration officers and staffs came under supervision of the ninth grader as she held discussion on child marriage, violence against women and proposed recommendations to make the 10 unions, one municipality woman friendly. UNO Arif Hossain said he will take Sadia’s recommendations in consideration to turn the upazila woman friendly and stop violence against women. READ: Soborno Isaac Bari: Bangladeshi Descent Child Prodigy Becomes World’s Youngest Professor Emphasizing on girl child Sadia said “Women’s ability has been proven in all sectors and they can go far if equity is served”.

Hearing on bail pleas of 12  Awami League men arrested in two cases filed over attacking Barisla Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s residence will be held on September 2. Senior Metropolitan Magistrate Anisur Rahman  announced the date on Sunday after receiving the bail petitions, said advocate Talukdar Md younus, lawyer of the defendants. Earlier on August 25, nine accused were granted bail in the cases filed by the UNO  and police. Also read: Attack on UNO’s house: Nine people get bail in Barishal On August 18, Ansar members clashed with a crowd of city corporation workers and AL, BCL activists when they stormed into the UNO’s residence at Sadar Upazila Complex in Barishal in a dispute over removing banners from Upazila Parishad premises. Five people suffered bullet wounds during the clash. Of them two AL men lost their eye sights later. Upazila Nirbahi officer Munibur Rahman of Barisal Sadar Upazila and Assistant sub-inspector of police Shahjalal Mallick filed two cases accusing 602 people including Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah of obstruction to government work and attempt to murder. Also read: Barishal clash: Two cases filed against UNO Munibur Rahman Twenty one people were arrested in this connection.

A Barishal court on Wednesday granted bail to nine accused in two cases filed over the attack on the residence of Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Munibur Rahman on August 18. Barishal Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Masum Billah passed the order, said Advocate Rafiqul Islam Jhantu, a counsel of the accused. Earlier, Advocate Rafiqul Islam Jhantu filed a petition seeking bail for 13 accused  in the cases. Those who secured bail are— Iktier Uddin, Salam Manu, Alo Gazi, Momin Uddin Kalu, Kabir Talukdar, Humayun Kabir Hawladar, Ilias Jamir Uddin and Nasir Uddin. READ: Barishal incident exhibits AL’s criminalisation: BNP   On August 22, a court rejected bail plea of 21 Awami League men arrested in connection with the cases filed over the attack . A clash broke out between the supporters of the AL, BCL and members and Ansar when the former tried to attack the residence of the UNO at Sadar Upazila Complex in Barishal on August 18. Five people suffered bullet wounds during the clash. Of them two AL men lost their eyesights later. Earlier two separate cases were filed in this connection. READ: Barishal clash: Two cases filed against UNO Munibur Rahman Upazila Nirbahi officer Munibur Rahman of Barisal Sadar Upazila and Assistant sub-inspector of police Shahjalal Mallick were the plaintiffs in these cases accusing the mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah and his men of obstruction of government work and attempt to murder. So far 22 people have been arrested in this connection.

Police have arrested 21 people in connection with the cases filed over the attack on the residence of Barishal Sadar UNO till Saturday noon, said police. Nurul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said “So far police have arrested 21 people in connection with the attack on the residence of the UNO and 13 of them were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday while the rest on Saturday from different parts of the city.” Earlier, on Wednesday, the clash broke out between the supporters of the AL, BCL and members of Ansar when the former tried to attack the residence of the UNO at Sadar Upazila Complex in Barishal Wednesday night. READ: Barishal clash: AL demands removal of UNO, release of party men Five people suffered bullet wounds during the clash. According to witnesses, the city corporation staff went to the residence of UNO Munibur to lower a banner hanging over the area. At one stage, the UNO came out and enquired about the matter, leading to a verbal altercation between him and Swapan Kumar Das, a city corporation staff. During this time, some 25-30 people entered the complex, and a scuffle broke out between Ansar and the mob, triggering a clash. At one stage, the Ansar members opened fire on them. READ: Barishal mayor among 94 ruling party activists sued over violence On information, police rushed to the spot and charged batons to disperse the mob. Some 25 people were injured in the clashes with the police and Ansar. Two separate cases were filed in this connection.