Protests, vandalism at UNO Offices over family card recruitment in Gaibandha

Protests erupted in Gaibandha's Phulchhari and Sundarganj upazilas demanding the cancellation of the recruitment list for family card data collectors and supervisors on Tuesday (August 11). The unrest involved vandalism at the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) office in Phulchhari and the locking of both the UNO and Upazila Social Services offices in Sundarganj.

Around noon in Phulchhari, leaders and activists of the BNP, Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal, and Jatioatabadi Chatra Dal, alongside deprived job seekers, staged a demonstration. Following the administration's morning publication of the recruitment list, protesters gathered in front of the UNO office. The situation escalated when they vandalized a window and several chairs in an office room on the second floor of the building, before senior BNP leaders intervened to calm the situation.

Protesters alleged that the data collectors and supervisors were appointed in collusion with leaders and activists of the banned Awami League, and that names of Awami League members were included in the list, prompting their demand for its cancellation. Phulchhari Upazila Chhatra Dal Convenor Zainal Mia stated that local party members and deprived candidates grew angry and protested due to the inclusion of Awami League affiliates. Attempts to reach Phulchhari UNO Mostafizur Rahman for comment were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists from Sundarganj upazila and municipality also staged protests over alleged irregularities in the recruitment process, locking the Upazila Social Services office and the UNO office at noon. Protesters demanded the cancellation of the recruitment results and a fresh selection based on merit. They claimed the recruitment lacked transparency and proper regulations, alleging that associates of the banned Awami League and favored candidates were appointed while qualified applicants were deprived. They warned of intensified movement if the appointments are not canceled within 24 hours.

However, Acting Sundarganj Upazila Social Services Officer Rajib Kumar Bagchi denied any irregularities in the recruitment process. He stated that out of approximately 4,000 applications, 19 supervisors and 207 data collectors were appointed through six boards that conducted examinations, asserting that qualified candidates secured the positions.