Arifur Rahman, assistant commissioner (land) of Jamalganj upazila in Sunamganj, posted two messages on Facebook one after the other: “Shilpi Rani Modak (UNO) will be responsible for my death” and “I resign from admin cadre”. After seeing the posts at about a quarter to 11pm on Friday, police and many others rushed to his home. He was later admitted to hospital, unwell.
According to his family, Arifur Rahman was first taken to a private hospital in Sylhet and then to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. On the advice of doctors there, family members took him to Dhaka on Saturday for better treatment. Arifur Rahman has served as the assistant commissioner (land) in Jamalganj for about two months and lives with his wife in the upazila town.
Asked about the incident, Jamalganj upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Shilpi Rani Modak said: “The AC (land) is mentally very unwell. Everyone saw what happened in the upazila town last night.”
Asked why the Facebook post blamed her, Shilpi Rani Modak said: “That is my question too. I cannot understand it myself. He was at my house six minutes before he posted. I will talk to him after he recovers and comes back, and then give the details at a press conference.”
Describing what happened, the UNO said Friday (23 October) was her three-year-old daughter’s birthday. Arifur Rahman and his wife came to her house that evening for the cake cutting. He posted the two messages on Facebook just after leaving. Many people then went to his home, and so did the police. There he was seen behaving abnormally. A doctor from the upazila health complex also came. His behaviour did not return to normal even after he was given medicine. His wife then decided to take him to Sylhet.
The UNO said she had learnt from Arifur’s wife that he already had a mental health problem. A child drowned in Jamalganj three days earlier, and his wife told the UNO he had been badly shaken since seeing the child’s body.
According to the UNO, in that state Arifur beat an Ansar member last night and threatened to kill her daughter. He was also rude to people he met on the street.
Bonde Ali, officer-in-charge (OC) of Jamalganj police station, went to Arifur’s home after seeing the Facebook posts. “Arifur seemed mentally unwell,” he said. “Journalists, local representatives and many others were there at the time. At his wife’s request, a sleeping pill was brought and given to him. When that did not work, an injection was considered. As one could not be found, he was sent to Sylhet at about 1am.”
The incident has caused wide discussion. Arifur Rahman’s official mobile number has been switched off since. The UNO informed the deputy commissioner and other officials concerned that same night.
Asked about the matter on Saturday afternoon, UNO Shilpi Rani Modak said: “The AC (land)’s mobile phone was hacked. I ask everyone not to be misled. The OC of Jamalganj police station is investigating the hacking of Arifur Rahman’s phone.”
As the post spread quickly, the Jamalganj upazila administration’s page also claimed that the AC (land)’s account had been hacked. Posting such a claim without any verification drew criticism from concerned local residents.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report