UP chairman in Netrokona suspended after confrontation with UNO

Chairman of Lengura union parishad in Kalmakanda upazila of Netrokona has been temporarily suspended following a heated altercation with the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) over the conduct of a mobile court.

An order for suspension was issued this evening through a gazette signed by a senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Local Government.

Earlier, Chairman Md Saidur Rahman Bhuiyan obstructed a mobile court led by the UNO Masudur Rahman in Lengura. A 33-second video clip of his confrontation with the magistrate went viral on social media.

In the footage, Saidur is heard saying, “This is my union, I am the chairman of this union. If you conduct a mobile court, you must inform me first.” When the magistrate asked which law required this, Saidur replied: “There is a law -- the chairman’s law.”

Speaking later, Saidur claimed that several structures at Lengura Bazar had previously been permitted by a former UNO but were destroyed in a fire.

He alleged that when locals attempted to rebuild, the current UNO obstructed them. “The current UNO was appointed during a fascist regime, so he has fascist behaviour. As an elected chairman of the people, I protested against this,” he said.

In response, the UNO said his team was on a field visit to check compliance with the electoral code of conduct. “We saw houses being constructed on government land at Lengura Bazar, and a mobile court was conducted there. At that point, the chairman obstructed us,” he explained.

The UNO added that the matter was reported to the DC, who forwarded it to the ministry. The ministry then decided to suspend Saidur as a legal measure.