A B Razzak

A demand was made to stop all types of corruption at the Department of Agricultural Extension in Khamarbari in the city on Thursday afternoon.

People from various walks of life, including agriculturists, made this demand in a human chain under the banner of 'Anti-Corruption Citizens and Students' Association ' in front of Khamarbari.

They said that recently, the Deputy Director, Administration and Finance Wing of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Dr. Muhammad Mahbubur Rashid, was transferred on charges of bribery. After the transfer order was issued, Mahbubur Rashid's followers created chaos by locking the gate of the Khamarbari and blocked roads with outsiders. and a press conferences was also held on Thursday.

Some officials of the concerned department said, those involved in creating unrest in agriculture, including agricultural officers Mahbubur Rashid and Rezaul Islam Mukul, should be brought under the law.

The agriculturalists participating in the human chain alleged that after August 5, three officials named Rezaul Islam Mukul, Muhammad Mahbubur Rashid and AKM Hasibul Hasan have embezzled crores of taka through transfer and promotion business by defaming the BNP.

Now, after the Ministry of Agriculture took anti-corruption steps, the controversial officials' syndicate is creating unrest in a planned way to put the government in trouble. The human chain demanded that the government funds allocated for farmers be used properly.

Agriculturalist Abdur Rahman said, where farmers wait for government assistance, these corrupt officials are robbing them of their due rights. If the government wants to sustain the agricultural sector, the corrupt officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension must be removed quickly.

Anisur Rahman, an agriculturalist said, after the transfer of a corrupt official, some officials have been creating chaos in the farm house since last Thursday. They have caused hardship to fasting people and patients by blocking roads. They have created panic and brought the farms to a standstill. However, no action has been taken against those officials who created anarchy. Such incidents have not happened in agriculture in the past. If they are not punished this time, such incidents may happen again.

Last Thursday, the Ministry of Agriculture issued a notification transferring DAE's Deputy Director of Administration and Finance Wing Dr. Muhammad Mahbubur Rashid to the post of Deputy Director at the Baradi Horticulture Center in Meherpur. Mahbubur Rashid was replaced by Deputy Director (Import) of the Plant Quarantine Wing Md. Muradul Hasan. Immediately after the transfer notification was issued, Mahbubur Rashid's followers created chaos by locking the gates of the farms, blocking the roads with outsiders, and holding press conferences.

There are allegations that the followers of Muhammad Mahbubur Rashid and Rezaul Islam Mukul, who are known to be pro-BNP officials, have led various incidents in Khamarbari after the mass uprising.

Several DAE officials said, using their political identities, these two officials and their followers have committed many irregularities in Khamarbari. They have done a lot of business with transfers and promotions. They are desperate to become PDs of big projects. If they go against their views, they are harassed with the tag of being a supporter of fascist government . In this case, some students are used as shields.