United News of Bangladesh

Thakurgaon’s Pirganj upazila has been without the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) for around one and a half months, disrupting administrative activities and suffering of service seekers. Sources said though former Pirganj UNO Md Ramiz Alam, who was transferred to Rangpur as an additional deputy commissioner, handed over the responsibilities to Ranisankail UNO Md Rakibul Hasan on January 21, he is yet to take charge. The Ministry of Public Administration has not issued any new order regarding the matter. In the absence of the UNO, AC (Land) Ishfakul has been performing the additional responsibilities including those of the municipal mayor and Upazila Parishad chairman. Moreover, he is also overseeing around 200 educational institutions as their governing body head. Officials and the people are facing difficulties as essential documents and files remain pending for signatures. Service seeker Rahmat said he has been coming to the Upazila Parishad for four consecutive days just to get a signature, but he could not find the officer. Mokhlesur Rahman Chowdhury, a UP chairman, said the AC (Land) is not found now and then due to his business and refuses to sign some documents, disrupting Union Parishad activities. AC (Land) Ishfakul said the work pressure is immense and he is trying his best  but a UNO is urgently needed here. Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner Ishrat Farzana said the matter has been reported to higher authorities and she hoped that a new UNO will be appointed soon.

A court in Tangail issued warrant for arresting former Basail Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) in a rape case filed last year. Judge Monira Sultana issued the warrant against former UNO Md Manjur Hossain after the allegations brought against him were proved primarily through an investigation. According to the court, the accused Manjur, who is serving as OSD at the public administration ministry, created a relationship with a college girl through social media Facebook in 2021 when he was the UNO. He allegedly raped the girl on the pretext of marriage and used to live in a rented house identifying themselves as couple. Read more: Arrest warrants issued against Jamaat chief, 11 others in sabotage case Manjur severed communication with the girl when she put pressure on him to marry. The victim filed a case against him at the court on June 21 last year. Later, the court asked the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate the incident. The PBI submitted their investigation report on December 29 last year while the court on Monday issued the warrant under section 493 of the Penal Code. 

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Chattogram’s Satkania has been made an officer on special duty (OSD) after he fined a doctor who was going to see a patient during the lockdown. On Sunday, UNO Nazrul Islam was made OSD to the Ministry of Public Administration over the order of KM Al-Amin, deputy secretary of the ministry. Earlier on Friday, UNO Nazrul Islam imposed a fine of Tk 1,000 on Dr. Farhad Kabir who was on his way to his private chamber to check an emergency patient. Also read: Lockdown: 496 vehicles fined Tk 12.8 lakh in Dhaka; 618 arrested At that time, the UNO also threatened to jail the doctor. Later the doctor made a Facebook post over the issue. As the issue came up in a number of newspapers, the Bangladesh Medical Association leaders demanded the intervention of the civil surgeon on the allegation of harassing the doctors. Also read: Lockdown: Mobile courts collect fines of Tk 76,300 in Sylhet, 1 held Later, UNO Nazrul Islam of Satkania was made OSD. However, Nazrul denied the allegations when contacted.

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court (HC) on Sunday seeking judicial probe against the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and AC land of Raiganj upazila over allegations regarding misuse of power.

The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Sunday demanded a judicial inquiry into the barbaric attack on Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Wahida Khanam of Ghoraghat in Dinajpur district.

Wahida Khanam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Ghoraghat,

Eleven people including an Upazila Nirbahi Officer and an Officer-in-Charge were infected with coronavirus in Netrakona district on Monday night.   Deputy Commissioner Md Moinul Islam said the samples of  the infected people were collected on Saturday and the report came on Monday night.   The laboratory of Microbiology Department of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital has been conducting coronavirus test in the district, he added.     According to Civil Surgeon Office sources, among the newly infected people six are from Kendua upazila, three from Barhatta and one each from Modon and Atpara upazila.

A mobile court on Saturday jailed three persons, including the groom, for child marriage at Sonarpur village in Mohammadpur upazila.

A bridge constructed at a cost of Tk 27 lakh over the Khasiamara River in Doarabazar upazila of the district is lying abandoned for nearly six years due to the lack of an approach road.