MP's wife seated at admin meeting in Bahubal, UNO and AC Land transferred

Amid controversy over seating a member of parliament's wife in the chief guest's chair at an administrative meeting of Bahubal Upazila Parishad in Habiganj, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Assistant Commissioner (Land) have been transferred.

In separate notifications issued last Sunday, UNO Liton De was transferred to the office of the Sylhet Divisional Commissioner, and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mahbubul Alam was transferred to the Ministry of Public Administration.

Prior to this, at a views-exchange meeting held on February 26 at the Bahubal Upazila Parishad conference room, Simi Kibria, wife of Dr Reza Kibria, member of parliament for the Habiganj-1 constituency, was seated in the chief guest's chair and delivered a speech.

A photo of the meeting circulated on social media, sparking criticism. The image shows UNO Liton De seated on one side of Simi Kibria, with Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mahbubul Alam and Bahubal Police Station OC Saiful Islam on the other. Questions arose regarding the legal validity of a public representative's family member being present and speaking as chief guest at a government event.

The transfer notifications for the UNO and AC Land were issued just one day after the criticism emerged.

Regarding the matter, OC Saiful Islam said he attended the meeting at the UNO's invitation and that it was an introductory meeting.

UNO Liton De claimed the transfer is unrelated to the incident and is part of regular administrative proceedings.

Habiganj Deputy Commissioner Abu Hasnat Mohammad Arefin said it was not a formal administrative meeting but rather an introductory event. He described the transfer as part of routine procedures, commenting that the simultaneous transfer of two officials was coincidental.

On February 25, a views-exchange meeting was held at Nabiganj Upazila Parishad between the newly elected MP Dr Reza Kibria and the upazila administration. Shortly after the meeting began, the MP left the venue, after which his wife Simi Kibria occupied the chief guest's chair, delivered a speech, and later visited the upazila parishad area and health complex.