Kurigram DC to face withdrawal

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain said a decision is being taken to withdraw Kurigram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sultana Parvin in connection with the incident of jailing journalist Ariful Islam in Kurigram by a mobile court, set up in the dead of night.

He also said a divisional action will be taken against the DC.

The state minister made disclosure while briefing reporters at his secretariat office on Sunday (March 15).

Farhad said, “Evidence of irregularity and her involvement with the incident has been found in the probe report. She will be removed from Kurigram and a divisional action will be taken against her.”

Ariful, Kurigram district correspondent at online news portal Bangla Tribune, was sent to jail soon after the mobile court, set up at the office of Kurigram deputy commissioner, ended the trial proceedings on Saturday morning.

The mobile court, set up in the dead of night, has jailed the journalist for a year, after several Ansar members led by magistrates picked him up from his house.

The mobile court brought an allegation against the journalist that drugs were recovered from his possession, which his family termed as absurd.

Family members said the Ansar members led by the magistrate started to push the door indiscriminately in the midnight. At one stage, they broke the door and picked Ariful up forcibly.

Dhaka/Naymuddin/AI