Official 'assaulted' inside lift of minister's residence, case filed
An allegation has been raised against an official for beating up another official of the livestock services department inside the lift at the residence of the fisheries and livestock minister Md Abdur Rahman.
A case for an attempt to murder has been filed with the Shahbagh police station.
The incident took place inside the lift of the minister's residence at Diganta Tower in the capital's Poribagh area on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the new posting of the official, who is the reported attacker, has been cancelled.
Azizul with a heavy object was waiting in front of the lift. As soon as the lift opened, he pushed Moloy Shur inside the lift and he fell down. He hit Moloy's head and nose in an attempt to kill him. As Moloy cried out, security guards appeared. At the time, Azizul fled issuing threats of death. Later, Moloy was rescued and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and first aid was given there. His face has been stitched as there were cuts in his face.
Moloy Kumar Shur, a director at the livestock services department, is the victim.
Allegations of assault have been raised against Md Azizul Islam, a district livestock officer at the livestock services department.
Moloy Kumar made a complaint against Azizul Islam on Friday. Shahbag police station officer-in-charge Mustafizur Rahman, speaking to Prothom Alo on Friday night, said the complaint has been turned into a case.
However, the accused Azizul Islam could not be arrested, the police official added.
According to the first investigation report, the livestock minister asked Moloy Kumar to visit his residence Diganta Tower for giving administrative instructions. Later, Moloy Kumar went to the minister's residence at 8:15pm on Thursday. After finishing the task, he got down by the lift to the ground floor.
As per the FIR, Azizul with a heavy object was waiting in front of the lift. As soon as the lift opened, he pushed Moloy Shur inside the lift and he fell down. He hit Moloy's head and nose in an attempt to kill him. As Moloy cried out, security guards appeared. At the time, Azizul fled issuing threats of death. Later, Moloy was rescued and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and first aid was given there. His face has been stitched as there were cuts in his face.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Moloy Kumar said, "Azizul all of a sudden attacked me when I was coming out of the lift after finishing discussion with the minister. He hit me with an object in a bid to kill me."
Repeated calls were made to contact Azizul to talk on the matter, but his mobile phone was found switched off.
When asked about the possible reason behind the attack, Shur said the ministry on Thursday gave Azizul Islam a posting with a rank of a director on Thursday. As he is a director at the livestock services department, he gave opinions in this regard. Azizul Islam, who is facing punishment in a departmental case, was given a new posting. He talked in accordance with the law. This may go against or in favour of somebody. As a result, Azizul was angry with him (Moloy Shur).
When minister Abdur Rahman was contacted over phone, he did not receive calls.
However, speaking to Prothom Alo, fisheries and livestock secretary Sayeed Mahmood Belal said, "I have heard that an official assaulted another official. An official has been injured and admitted to the hospital. I have asked the livestock department director general for a written report. A departmental action will be taken against the accused officer after the report is received."
New posting of Azizul cancelled
District livestock officer Azizul Islam was given a new posting as the chief scientific officer under the livestock services department on Thursday. As an allegation of assaulting Moloy Shur was raised against him, the ministry cancelled his posting.
Secretary Sayeed Mahmood Belal confirmed it to Prothom Alo.
He said, "Azizul was given a new posting. But after the incident, his posting has been cancelled."
Azizul's district livestock officer is the fifth grade with a status of junior officer. Azizul was given this post as his two increments were denied due to two departmental cases.
On the contrary, the post of chief scientific officer was in the 3rd grade.
Allegations of assaulting former director general
On 12 October 2023, Azizul along with an outsider allegedly tried to attack former livestock services department director general Emdadul Haque. At that time Azizul was suspended.
On the day of the incident, Azizul went to the office of DG so that the letter was sent to the ministry, but Emdadul was not at his room.
Sources said when the DG entered the room of the director, Azizul asked him to send the letter for the withdrawal of his temporary suspension. At the time, the DG said an administrative decision has to be taken to send the letter to the ministry.
Hearing this Azizul started shouting, the letter stated. When the director (admin) tried to control Azizul, he rushed towards the DG.
When the DG tried to leave the room, Azizul intercepted him and continued shouting. He also made a death threat. At one stage, he shoved the DG and assaulted him.
As Aziz was convicted in a departmental case in connection with the incident, his pay scale was downgraded.
*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo online edition, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam