Order for departmental action against UNO Sabrina scrapped

The District Judge's Court has scrapped an order for departmental action against Shahjadpur Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Sabrina Sharmin in a contempt of court (civil violation) case. At the same time, the UNO's written objection was accepted and the proceedings of the violation case were ordered to resume.

District Judge Md Iqbal Hossain gave the order on September 17 following a civil revision filed by the UNO. It scrapped the earlier order of the Shahjadpur Senior Civil Judge's Court (Chouki Court) and ordered acceptance of the UNO's written objection.

A civil violation case was filed against the UNO in Shahjadpur over a legal dispute between the local Chouki Court and the upazila parishad centring the ownership of land acquired in 1983 for a thana complex. Later, in that case, the Shahjadpur Chouki Court directed the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration to take departmental action against the UNO. It had also ordered submission of a report to the court on the matter.

According to court documents, the UNO had sought time through her lawyer along with a medical certificate as she could not appear due to illness and preparations for the case. However, the application was rejected and the case proceedings were advanced.

Later, the UNO filed a civil revision in the District Judge's Court. In its order given on September 17, the District Judge's Court said it is reasonable to accept the UNO's written objection and resume the case proceedings in the interest of giving both sides an equal opportunity to defend themselves.

Earlier, on July 14, the bench assistant of the Shahjadpur Chouki Court filed a miss violation case against UNO Sabrina Sharmin. Later, on July 19, the UNO submitted a written objection.

In the written objection, the UNO said an interim injunction was given without giving the government side a proper opportunity to be heard. She also mentioned that proper notice was not given.

Considering some remarks made about the Shahjadpur Chouki Court in the written objection as objectionable and contemptuous, the UNO was asked to appear in person and explain. Although she sought time due to illness and preparations for the case, it was rejected. Additionally, an application to suspend proceedings until a plea for transferring the case to the District Judge's Court was disposed of was also rejected.

With the District Judge's Court's new order of September 17 scrapping the earlier order for departmental action, that order against UNO Sabrina Sharmin no longer stands. At the same time, the opportunity to defend herself in the violation case has been restored.