Joy says sorry

Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Arif Khan Joy, who ransacked a joint secretary's room in his ministry three days ago, has apologised to the official.

Joy also said sorry to State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Sikder yesterday for making comments against him in the media and sought support from Secretary Nur Mohammad to help resolve the issue, according to ministry officials.

On Sunday, the deputy minister reportedly lost his cool during a national youth day programme at the capital's Osmani Memorial Auditorium after he saw the name of Biren Sikder written on the banner as chief guest.

After the function, he returned to the ministry and ransacked the room of Mashuk Miah, the joint secretary. He also shouted at a few others, said ministry officials and eyewitnesses.

Sources said the deputy minister went straight to the room of Secretary Nur after arriving at the ministry around 9:30am yesterday. Joy sought Nur's support for an amicable solution there.

Joy told the secretary that his act was wrong and he wanted the issue to be resolved. He was also interested in “patching things up” with the state minister, added the sources. 

After a long discussion, Nur took Joy to Biren Sikder's room. There, Joy requested that the joint secretary be brought there as well.

“Entering the room, he [Joy] told the state minister that he had made mistakes and apologised for having done those. In reply, the state minister told him that he wanted to run the ministry with the cooperation from all,” a source close to Biren Sikder, wishing not to be named, told The Daily Star.

Biren then asked Joy to discuss with him whether he was having any difficulties in doing his job. He also reminded Joy that his private secretary and other officials had themselves transferred to other ministries due to “misbehaviour of the deputy minister”, added the source.

Contacted, Secretary Nur told The Daily Star, “We along with the joint secretary sat together at the state minister's room. The meeting was initiated to ensure that there remains no gap in running the activities of the ministry apart from ensuring dynamism in our work.

“We told both the state and deputy ministers that we will be with them if work is done professionally for improving the image of the ministry,” he said.

“At the meeting, the deputy minister said sorry to the joint secretary,” he said, adding that Mashuk was very saddened over Sunday's incident.

Joy could not be reached despite repeated attempts.