UNO Mahmuda now transferred to Chattogram

Mahmuda Begum, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Kendua upazila in Netrakona, who came into discussion over the construction of houses under the Ashrayan project on a playground, has been transferred again to Chattogram.

Earlier on Wednesday, she was transferred to Madan upazila, according to a notification signed by Kabirul Ahsan, senior assistant commissioner at the office of the divisional commissioner of Mymensingh.

Mahmuda Begum has been posted to Chattogram divisional commissioner’s office, according to a notification signed by KM Al-Amin, deputy secretary of field administration branch–2 of the public administration ministry on Thursday.

Netrokona deputy commissioner Anjana Khan Majlis confirmed her transfer to Prothom Alo on Saturday.

According to sources in the Mymensingh divisional commissioner’s office, UNOs of three upazilas – Kendua, Madan and Khaliajuri were transferred on Wednesday.

Among them, Kendua UNO Mahmuda Begum was transferred to Madan while Madan UNO Abul Kalam Mohammad Lutfar Rahman was transferred to Muktagacha upazila.

Kaberi Jalal, who was attached to the divisional commissioner’s office, has been made the new UNO of Kendua and Ershadul Ahmed, attached with the divisional commissioner’s office, has been posted as the new UNO of Khaliajuri.

However, Mahmuda Begum was transferred again to Chattogram a day later.

According to the locals and sources in the UNO, Mahmuda Begum drew wide criticism over changing a 46-decimal land used as a playground to Kanda category and starting the construction works there under the Ashrayan Project-2.

It sparked outcry from people across the country, including the locals, to protect the field. At the same time, eight local residents filed a case with the court on 30 May as plaintiffs.

On the night of 2 June, two under-construction houses of the Ashrayan Project broke down. The deputy assistant engineer of the upazila project implementation officer’s office filed a case against 19 as plaintiff. Later, the construction works proceeded under police protection.

Anjana Khan, the current deputy commissioner, visited the spot at the face of people’s demand and removed 11 of the 23 houses. Later, the west side of the field was evacuated and 12 houses were built on a 24 decimal land. However, in the early morning of 13 August, two houses were set on fire. Following this, the upazila project implementation officer filed a case as plaintiff naming 63 people.

After the arson attack, UNO Mahmuda Begum blamed several, including a former MP and a central leader of Awami League. She also claimed that she got this information from the investigative reports of the NSI and DGFI. She also claimed that members of the ruling party and opposition conspired in this incident together. Apart from this, she threatened to file a case against all the residents as unknown accused in a press conference.

Humayun Kabir, upazila correspondents of Dainik Sangbad and Daily Observer, posted the video of UNO's speech at the press conference on his Facebook page. Following that, the UNO even threatened the newsperson to implicate him in the case. Then the deputy commissioner issued her a show cause notice.

Then the deputy commissioner gave him a show cause notice. UNO Mahmuda Begum was declared unwanted in Balaishimul union in a meeting of the residents of 28 villages at Balaishimul Eidgah on 19 August. At the same time, an ultimatum was given to remove her from the post