UNO Harassment: Barisal, Barguna DCs withdrawn

Deputy Commissioners of Barguna and Barisal have been withdrawn and made officers on special duty (OSD) attached to the Public Administration Ministry for their roles in the filing of a case and arrest of Barguna UNO Tariq Salman.

Ministry officials said a gazette was issued regarding the withdrawal of Bashirul Alam from Barguna and Gazi M Saifuzzaman from Barisal yesterday.

Meanwhile, the cabinet division on Saturday formed a committee to probe whether any law was violated in dealing with the matter.

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The committee led by an additional secretary of the cabinet division was asked to submit its report within 15 working days, Cabinet Secretary M Shafiul Alam told reporters after a cabinet meeting yesterday adding that steps would be taken after the committee submits its report.

Barisal Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Mohammad Ali Hossain, who dealt Tariq's case, informed the Supreme Court administration on Sunday that he did not refuse Tariq bail and that he was not sent to jail, High Court's Additional Registrar Md Sabbir Faiz told The Daily Star.

Notwithstanding the claims, Tariq's name was seen on the top of a list of accused persons of the court's custody register on July 19.  This paper obtained a copy of the list titled “Hajatkhanar Asami Grohon Register”.

Sabbir Faiz declined to comment on the list, saying that they did not get any such lists from the CJM.

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Court and administration employees said there were two rooms adjacent to the court. One room is used for keeping accused persons while policemen on guard sit in the other room. Tariq was taken to the police's room.

Obaidullah Sazu, a suspended leader of the Barisal Awami League, filed a case against Tariq last month, for publishing a portrait of Bangabandhu, drawn by a fifth-grader, on an invitation card.

Tariq was the Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Agailjhara upazila in Barisal at the time.

The case against Tariq was readily accepted and he was arrested. In the face of severe criticism, ruling Awami League suspended Sazu, who later withdrew the case.

Responding to a query, the cabinet secretary yesterday said the Divisional Commissioner of Barisal sent a letter to the Cabinet Division requesting punitive measures against Tariq for “distorting the image of Bangabandhu”. The letter has been "filed", but "We didn't find anything against him [UNO]."