Jamaat MP criticised for welcoming UNO with flowers at office

Abdul Gafur, a local Member of Parliament and leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, has come under criticism on social media for visiting the office of the newly appointed Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) in Mirpur, Kushtia, to welcome her with flowers. The criticism centres on issues of administrative protocol and neutrality following the circulation of photos and information from the courtesy meeting held on Tuesday morning.

Abdul Gafur, the MP for Kushtia-2 (Mirpur-Bheramara) constituency, visited the Upazila Parishad office with party leaders and activists to present the UNO with a bouquet and a book. Later, he posted on Facebook that the visit was to greet the new UNO on behalf of the people of Mirpur and expressed hope for coordinated work between public representatives and the administration for the upazila's development.

However, after the event became public, many on social media questioned the adherence to the Warrant of Precedence and administrative neutrality. Some commented that such a reception for a government official by an MP raises questions about protocol .

Mizanur Rahman, a leader of the Kushtia chapter of citizens' group SUJON and a member of SANAQ, said that an MP visiting the UNO's office with party leaders to give flowers could send a message of political influence, potentially raising questions about administrative neutrality .

Regarding the matter, UNO Afroza Shahin Khosru said she had recently taken charge and that the MP's personal assistant had informed her of his visit. She viewed the meeting, during which the MP presented flowers and a book, as a courtesy call, stating that public representatives and the administration must work together for the area's development. She declined to comment on the discussions surrounding the Warrant of Precedence.