Argument with UP chairman in Panchagarh meeting, police rescued the blocked secretary

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Panchagarh Sadar Upazila’s Harivasa Union Parishad (UP) special meeting has caused tension due to the rhetoric of the Chairman and Administrative Officer (Secretary). When the shouting started, the local people gathered at the UP square. Later, when the administrative officer Aliul Islam was blocked, the police rescued him and took him to the police station. The incident took place at the Union Parishad office from Thursday afternoon to night.

According to local sources, a special meeting was held in the presence of the chairman, administrative officers and UP members yesterday afternoon. During the discussion on the income-expenditure account of the council in the meeting, an argument started between the chairman Syed Noor-e-Alam and the administrative officer Aliul Islam. At one point they both stood up excitedly and shouted. Later the UP members present pacified them and took the administrative officer to his room.

At that time, the situation became more heated when news spread that the administrative officer had gone to kill the chairman. Hundreds of people gathered in the Union Parishad square and started protesting. They demanded Aliul Islam’s trial and locked him in his room.

A team of Panchagarh Sadar police station went to the spot after receiving the information. Police tried to convince the angry people for a long time with the help of UP Chairman. At one stage, administrative officer Aliul Islam was taken out of his room by the police in the crowd. At that time, angry people threw eggs at him. Later he was taken to the police station.

However, during the meeting, both the chairman and the administrative officer claimed that no one hurt anyone during the argument.

Aliul Islam said, “When the chairman suddenly stood up during the speech, I also stood up. Later UP members stopped us and took me to my room. Chairman Sahib being the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, he called his party people and blocked me. Even the chairman took my mobile phone so that I could not contact anyone. Angry people entered my room and hit me, during which they broke three chairs. The cheek under my left eye is swollen from their injuries.’

UP Chairman Syed Noor-e-Alam said, ‘We hold such special meetings every month. In the meeting, there was a discussion between the two regarding the income-expenditure account. At that time the secretary (administrative officer) got angry with me and suddenly stood up. At this time I also stand. Later UP members stopped him and took him to his room. As our office is next to the market, people gather to hear Chila Chili. Outside, the news may have spread differently. But I did not call anyone.

Ashraful Islam, officer-in-charge of Panchagarh Sadar police station, said that the police were sent there after receiving information about the incident. At night, the UP administrative officer was rescued and brought to the police station. Later he was given custody of Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) representative.

Sadar UNO Fahmida Sultana told , “The chairman of Harivasa Union Parishad sent a written complaint on WhatsApp at night after the incident. Apart from this, I have come to know that the secretaries (administrative officers) of the Union Parishad wanted to meet me. Both posts are important in running the Union Parishad. The issue will be resolved by sitting with both parties.