Bangladesh government removes Tetulia administrative chief following bribery allegations
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The Ministry of Public Administration has issued an official order withdrawing Afroz Shahin Khosru, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Tetulia, Panchagarh, and reassigning her to the ministry as a senior assistant secretary. The directive, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Golam Morshed, was issued last Thursday, though public knowledge of the transfer surfaced only on Sunday.
The administrative action follows a highly publicized incident in which a local woman, Rehena Begum Urmi, confronted the official in a viral social media broadcast. On June 29, Urmi intercepted Khosru on the grounds of the Tetulia Upazila Parishad and initiated a Facebook live stream, demanding the return of 180,000 taka she alleged she had paid as a bribe to secure a village police position for her son. During the nine-minute video, the two engaged in a heated dispute, with the official denying any acquaintance with the woman.
Later that evening, Urmi filed a formal written complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Panchagarh, alleging that she had been threatened after requesting the return of her money. While the transfer order was finalized, it occurred against a backdrop of intensifying local tension. On June 30, demonstrations were held in Tetulia by groups claiming to represent government staff and local residents, who condemned the incident as a conspiracy against the official and demanded legal action against those involved.
Legal proceedings were subsequently initiated by the administration. On July 3, a staff member of the UNO’s office filed a case against Urmi and several unidentified individuals under the Cyber Security Act, alleging defamation and attempted blackmail. Following the filing of the case, Urmi reported to the local press that she has been living in fear and unable to return home due to ongoing threats.
Prior to the confrontation, the administration had already initiated a standard transfer process for Khosru, moving her from her post in Tetulia to Taraganj, Rangpur, on June 24. Regarding her current status, Khosru confirmed receiving the ministry’s latest directive on Friday, noting that she is awaiting further instructions from the Deputy Commissioner’s office regarding the timeline for her departure.
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