Goaland Agriculture Officer gets angry at journalist for seeking information.

Daily Bijoy News Rajbari Correspondent:

Allegations have been raised against Goaland Upazila Agriculture Officer Rayhanul Haider of Rajbari for misbehaving with journalists. When they went to his office to get his statement regarding the allegation of selling fertilizer at a price higher than the government-fixed rate, instead of providing information, he behaved discourteously with Channel S Television and Daily Amar Sangbad's Goaland Upazila correspondent Mohammad Zahidul Islam Sheikh and My Country newspaper's Goaland Upazila correspondent Zahurul Islam Halim. The incident occurred at around 1:30 PM on Tuesday, October 21, at the Upazila Agriculture Officer's office.

Regarding this, journalist Zahidul Islam Sheikh said, "The government-fixed price of DAP fertilizer this year is 21 Taka per kg. But this fertilizer is being sold in the retail market at 29 Taka per kg. After learning about the matter, I spoke to farmers at the field level and found the allegation to be true, and took statements from retail dealers and BCIC dealers. Finally, I went to the Upazila Agriculture Officer's office at around 1:30 PM on Tuesday to get his statement. But instead of giving me information, he became angry with me and started abusing me using various obscene languages. Later, I left the place."

Journalist Zahurul Islam Halim said, "I went to his office on Tuesday noon for work related to a news report. At that time, I entered after greeting him and addressed him as 'Brother'. At this, he became angry with me. He said, 'You don't behave in my office the way you behave in the UNO/AC Land's office. Just as they are BCS cadres, I am also a BCS cadre.' Later, after a heated argument with him about this, I left the room."

Daily Matrikontha correspondent Moinul Haque Mridha and Daily Amader Rajbari correspondent Sazzad Hossain said, "A few days ago, we went to his office to get his statement on an issue concerning paddy seeds. But he did not give any statement. He did not even show the slightest courtesy. Later, we published the news without his statement."

Channel 24's Rajbari district correspondent Suman Bishwas said, "I applied for some information under the Right to Information Act to his official and personal mail one month ago. But instead of providing the information, he spoke irrelevantly and asked for an explanation regarding why I needed the information. Such behavior from a government officer is very regrettable."

Regarding this matter, Goaland Upazila Agriculture Officer Syed Rayhanul Haider told this correspondent over the mobile phone, "I am sincerely sorry for the incident on Tuesday noon. That day, I was not feeling well physically and mentally. I was also under a lot of work pressure. So, I lost my self-control. Such an incident will not happen again in the future. I will work together with journalists for the development of agriculture and farmers in the area."

In this context, the Upazila Acting Executive Officer and Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Asaduzzaman said, "After learning about the Agriculture Officer's discourteous behavior with journalists, I called him to my office on Wednesday morning. He expressed his shame and remorse to me for the incident. I have warned him. If such an incident happens in the future, administrative action will be taken against him. Besides, the allegation of selling fertilizer at extra prices will be investigated quickly and necessary steps will be taken."

Daily Bijoy News/ Md Zahidur Rahim Mollah