A monthly law and order committee meeting, organized by the Zakiganj Upazila Administration, was held on Wednesday at 11:00 AM in the Upazila Auditorium.
The meeting was presided over by UNO Mahbubur Rahman. Key discussions focused on overall security, social discipline, educational environment, road safety, and the role of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in the border areas.
Speakers at the meeting demanded strict monitoring to prevent unnecessary roaming of youth during school hours in various educational institution areas in Zakiganj. Concerns were also raised over frequent road accidents caused by unskilled drivers, resulting in fatalities.
The role of BGB in Zakiganj’s border areas was questioned during the meeting. Elected representatives alleged that BGB is unnecessarily detaining the district’s traditional cash crop, betel nut (supari), under the pretext of smuggling, harassing local traders.
They emphasized that betel nut is not smuggled; it is a major source of income for Zakiganj residents, supplied to various districts and sub-districts across the country. They warned that such restrictions would discourage outside traders and negatively affect local farmers. The representatives called for a review of BGB’s actions in this regard.
Officials and attendees included Zakiganj Assistant Commissioner (Land) Pronoy Biswas; Khatib of Zakiganj Central Jame Mosque Mufti Abul Hasan; Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. S.M. Abdul Ahad; Upazila Livestock Officer Abdullah Al Masud; DGM of Zakiganj Rural Electrification Zone Mohammad Sarwar Jahan; Police Inspector (Investigation) Sujan Mia; Chairmen of 1 No. Barhal UP Mostak Ahmad Chowdhury, 4 No. Khalachra UP Abdul Haq, 5 No. Sadar UP Hasan Ahmad, 6 no Sultanpur UP Rafiqul Islam, 8 No. Koskonokpur UP Abdus Sattar Moin; Upazila Jamaat Amir Maulana Jalal Uddin; Zakiganj Press Club General Secretary Ahsan Habib Layek; Social Services Officer Binoy Bhushan Das; Upazila Cooperative Officer Md. Fakhruddin; Upazila Project Implementation Officer Md. Mosharraf Hossain; Upazila Ansar & VDP Officer Dibyendu Bhattacharya Mithun; 2 No. Birashree UP Member (Panel Chairman) Abdul Jalil; Supervisor of Islamic Foundation Zakir Hossain; Headmaster of Zakiganj Girls' High School Ferdous Ahmad; Upazila Secretary of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Zainul Islam; NCP Labour Wing Central Organizer Shibbir Ahmad; along with various political leaders, educational institution representatives, elected representatives, administrative officers, and journalists.
The meeting emphasized the importance of coordination between the administration and elected representatives to maintain law and order, prevent social decay, and eliminate drugs and gambling.
