Staff Correspondent

The officials and employees of the non-governmental development organization Naria Development Association (NUSA) are under threat of losing their jobs if they do not participate in the election campaign of Dr. Khaled Shawkat Ali, an independent candidate with the eagle symbol at Shariatpur-2 (Naria-Sakhipur) Constituency.

Victims alleged that most of the 1,200 officers and employees working in that NGO are being forced to go to the election campaign for an independent candidate for fear of losing their jobs. It is known that Nadia Development Association (NUSA) is geographically surrounded by Padma, Meghna and Kirtinasha rivers and with the aim of relief and rehabilitation among the backward people, disaster prone areas and poor areas of Shariatpur district in 1979 through some number of social activists and development organizers of Nadia upazila. established.

Its main visionary organizer was the former Deputy Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, former Member of Parliament late Colonel (retd) Shaukat Ali. After his death, Majeda Shaukat Ali, wife of late Colonel (retd) Shaukat Ali, is currently serving as the Executive Director of Naria Development Association. It is alleged that most of the members of the board of directors and management of the company are from the same family. AKM Enamul Haque Shamim is vigorously campaigning as a parliamentary candidate of the Awami League party-nominated boat symbol in Shariatpur-2 constituency.

Boat candidate AKM Enamul Haque Shamim is at the top of his popularity as he has done extensive development work in the area as Deputy Minister of Water Resources in the last 5 years. As a result, all party leaders, public representatives and people from all walks of life in Shariatpur-2 constituencies Nariya and Sakhipur are campaigning for Enamul Haque Shamim and thousands of leaders and supporters are going door-to-door to vote for the boat.

On the other hand, his rival, Dr. Khaled Shawkat Ali, son of the Executive Director of Naria Development Association, Majeda Shawkat Ali, is campaigning as an Independent Member of Parliament candidate of the Eagle symbol. Dr. Khaled Shawkat Ali, an independent candidate of the Eagle symbol, has become unemployed in the election campaign. As a result, the victims said that the NGO Nusa, which is managed by them, is offering bonuses to their employees to participate in the election campaign on their behalf, and on the other hand, they are being threatened with dismissal from their jobs if they do not participate in the election campaign.

According to the office sources, out of 1,200 people working in Naria Development Association, about 300 officers and employees are working in Naria and Shariatpur. Most of them are helpless and forced to campaign for independent candidates. An officer working in Noosa and some field workers on condition of anonymity complained that we have always been voting for Awami League's boat brand. Now I am forced to campaign for an independent candidate to save my job.

Advocate Abul Kalam Azad, Mayor of Naria Municipality, said that the employees working in Noosa are being forced to campaign for independent candidates against the boats by the lure of bonuses or the threat of dismissal from their jobs. Which is beyond the electoral code of conduct. A written complaint has been submitted to District Returning Officer Shariatpur District Commissioner in this regard.

When asked about this over the phone, Majeda Shawkat Ali, executive director of Naria Development Association, said that there is no question of showing such intimidation. They are spreading propaganda. Moreover, many people working in Noosa have homes in other districts. Various rumors are being spread about Noosa ahead of the election. In this regard, the joint director of Nariya Development Association Jaydev Chandra Kundu said on the phone, "We have not forced any officer-employee to participate in the election campaign.

However, many are voters of the area, in that case, if someone conducts election campaign for someone on the day of office closure, it is his personal matter. When asked over the phone, Assistant Returning Officer Naria Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shankar Chandra Vaidya said, I have heard such a rumour. However, if an employee is forced to participate in the election campaign by fear of losing his job and receives any such specific complaint, then legal action will be taken against him. When asked over the phone, District Returning Officer Shariatpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nizam Uddin Ahmed said that the matter is being investigated.