In Panchagarh’s Debiganj Upazila, four people, including a woman, have been made to stand up in public for engaging in anti-social activities. This has created a stir in the area. The video has been spread on social media Facebook.
The incident took place in Sonahar Mallikadaha union of Debiganj upazila. On April 25, the chairman of the union Mashiur Rahman made four people, including a woman, hold their ears in public. They were made to hold their ears in front of everyone on the two-storey verandah of the Union Parishad office.
However, the victims complained that the woman was returning home by bus from Rangpur on April 24. After falling asleep on the bus, the bus driver dropped him off at Sonahar Bazar in Debiganj instead of Bhabaniganj. Later, the woman was going to Jharbari from Sonahar Bazar via Nuru Bazar on the banks of Karatoya river. Later in the evening, when Nuru asked a man named Dhananjay from the area to show him the way to the market, he was arrested and beaten by some local youths and taken to the Union Parishad.
At that time two more persons named Suresh and Reazul were also brought to the Union Parishad with them. They were detained at the union council overnight. The next day, an arbitrator was appointed against them for engaging in anti-social activities. The chairman grabbed their ears in public and made them stand up. The victims alleged that the chairman had inhumanely humiliated them even though they had not committed any crime.
The victim said that the chairman and his people had insulted her. Even though I have not committed any crime, everyone has forced me to listen.
I can’t go out of the house now in shame.
Another victim, Suresh Das, said, “My friend’s son Dhananjay called me and told me that he had been detained at the Union Parishad.” When I went to meet him, they also detained and beat me. Later another person named Riazul was detained. The next morning our chairman beat me and forced me to stand up. We can’t face people now.
When Sonahar Mallikadaha Union Chairman Mashiur Rahman was contacted on his mobile phone, he said, “I am busy with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer here.” Calling later. He was later called several times but his phone was found switched off.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Debiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Golam Ferdous said, “I have heard the matter from a third party.” No one complained to me. However, the chairman cannot make anyone stand up like this. The chairman was not given this power.
