Lalmonirhat Sadar Assistant Land Commissioner verbally abuses: Journalists threatened to be detained and sent to jail

 

Ismail Ashraf

Special Representative.

Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abdullah-Al-Noman Sarkar has detained 5 journalists in the office and threatened to send them to jail after abusing them in profanity for asking for information regarding land rejection.

 The incident took place at the office of Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) on Thursday (March 14) at 12 noon. About 40 minutes after the incident, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) TMA Momin arrived at the scene and unlocked the office gate and released the journalists. In the presence of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner insulted the journalists as 'broker'. Meanwhile, the Additional Deputy Commissioner calmed down the situation when the journalists stayed at the spot. He assured to take necessary measures in coordination with the Deputy Commissioner in this incident. Later, everyone including the journalists left the scene. At that time, the offended assistant commissioner Abdullah-Al-Noman Sarkar stopped a television camera person's motorcycle and fined him 5 thousand taka.

After this incident, the journalists staged a protest on the Lalmonirhat-Burimari road at the heart of the city, Missionmode. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ullah and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) TMA Momin reached the spot around 2 pm. The journalists called off the sit-in strike after being assured of taking necessary action against the accused assistant commissioner.

Journalists said that since Thursday morning, three office assistants of the Assistant Commissioner (Lands) office were conducting hearings related to land. The Assistant Commissioner (Lands) was not present there. My TV and Daily Observer journalist Mahfuz Saju recorded the video of the hearing. The staff of the office got angry and called the assistant commissioner. Journalist Mahfuju Saju was detained on the orders of Assistant Commissioner Abdullah-Al-Noman Sarkar. Four journalists from the Press Club, Neon Dulal, SK Saheed, Farooq Ahmed and Kawshar Ahmed went to the spot after receiving this news and they were also detained in the office.

Journalist Mahfuz Saju said - People who come to seek services are treated badly in the office of the Assistant Commissioner (Lands). When I got to know this information, I got the truth. Aceland kept them in the office as well. He said - 'Asiland made very unpleasant comments about the journalist. They threatened to send us to jail.

Asian Television's Lalmonirhat district representative Niyan Dulal said - Aceland and the office staff also abused us. If ADC Revenue doesn't release us, Aceland will send us to jail, he said.

SK Shahed, Lalmonirhat District Representative of Dainik Kalbela newspaper, said that Aceland treated us very rudely. Made ugly comments about the journalist. He got angry with the journalists for collecting information about the bad behavior of the people who came to take the service.

Abdul Mannan, the camera person of Channel I Television, said that the motorcycle had the necessary documents. But the papers were not with them. Aisland was asked for 10 minutes but he refused because he was angry with the reporters.

Convener of Lalmonirhat Press Club and district representative of ATN Bangla Television and Daily Samakal newspaper Anwar Hossain said, "The district administrator has assured to take action in this regard." Journalists will go on strike if no action is taken by Saturday.

Golam Mostafa, a retired professor of Lalmonirhat Government College, said that people are treated very harshly to serve in the Assistant Commissioner (Land) office. I was treated extremely harshly by the Assistant Commissioner. He considers the government office as a family office.

Assistant Commissioner (Lands) Abdullah-Al-Noman Sarkar did not respond when asked about the journalists being detained in their offices, abused and threatened with jail. "I fined a motorcycle rider 5 thousand taka for not being able to show the documents," he said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) TMA Momin told reporters that in the absence of the Assistant Commissioner, the office assistants cannot hear the rejection of the land in any way. The Deputy Commissioner is looking into the matter.

Lalmonirhat District Commissioner Mohammad Ullah said that he is aware of the whole incident. He assured the reporters that quick action will be taken in this regard by talking to the higher authorities.

Later, the angry journalists temporarily withdrew the road blockade.