BD Global Desk
Job seekers and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists surrounded the upazila nirbahi officer’s (UNO) office in Bagatipara, Natore, protesting alleged irregularities in recruiting data collectors and supervisors for Family Card Census 2026.
There were also allegations that protesters kicked the UNO’s door and harassed journalists. The UNO said he knew nothing about those incidents.
The incident occurred at the Bagatipara Upazila Parishad around noon on Wednesday (August 12).
Witnesses said a procession led by former upazila Chhatra Dal convener Sohel Rana left the Malanchi railway-gate area around noon and took a position outside the UNO’s office on the second floor. Protesters chanted slogans alleging recruitment irregularities, and witnesses said several kicked the office door when tensions rose.
Protesters alleged that people linked to the Awami League had been favoured in recruiting Family Card data collectors and supervisors, while many qualified applicants, including Chhatra Dal activists, were excluded. They also alleged that some people were recruited in exchange for money without taking the examination.
Star News Television’s Natore correspondent Tarikul Hasan said he was threatened, pushed and harassed while broadcasting the protest, and that local representatives of other media were also harassed.
Sohel Rana denied the allegations of assault. He said many candidates who performed well were not recruited and that an inquiry found irregularities. He alleged that Awami League supporters had been recruited to discredit the BNP government, causing public anger. He said the protest demanded cancellation of the recruitment but denied any attack or harassment of journalists.
Bagatipara UNO Debashish Basak said several people complained of irregularities after the results were published and that the allegations would be reviewed before action was taken. Regarding the alleged attack and harassment, he said he had been inside the office since morning and did not know what happened outside, but legal action would be taken after learning the facts.
Natore police superintendent Shariful Haque said no specific complaint about an attack had been received. An investigation would follow if a written complaint was submitted.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report