Mysterious Posts by Jamalganj AC Land in Sunamganj Spark Stir, Sent to Dhaka for Treatment
Posts on Facebook by Md Arifur Rahman Shanto, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Jamalganj upazila in Sunamganj, have created a stir. In one post, he blamed Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shilpi Rani Modak for his death. The UNO, meanwhile, has said the officer is mentally unwell.
The posts appeared late on Friday night (23 October) on the Facebook page named 'AC Land Jamalganj'. One post read, 'Shilpi Rani Modak will be responsible for my death.' Another post made a short while later read, 'I resign from Admin Cadre.'
According to related sources, AC Land Arifur Rahman Shanto had been suffering from mental health problems for some time. Until now, however, the matter had remained within the family.
On Friday, AC Land Shanto attended the birthday of UNO Shilpi Rani Modak's daughter in Jamalganj with his family. There, he began behaving unusually after the birthday cake was cut. At one stage, he assaulted the Ansar members assigned to the UNO's security.
After he was calmed and taken home, he smashed a water glass there, ran downstairs and also beat two children in front of the house. It was amid these events that he made the two Facebook posts — one blaming the UNO for his death and the other announcing his resignation from the Admin Cadre.
In the situation that developed, the UNO phoned the officer-in-charge of Jamalganj Police Station, after which police took the AC Land to a room and he was kept there after being given a sleeping injection.
On Saturday morning (24 October), he was sent to Sylhet for better treatment. After first being taken to Mount Adora Hospital and then to Osmani Medical Hospital, the duty doctor referred the AC Land to Dhaka. Those concerned said the vehicle carrying him was currently in Bhairab.
On the matter, Jamalganj UNO Shilpi Rani Modak said, 'He came to my daughter's birthday programme yesterday with his wife. He started behaving unusually right after the cake was cut. He assaulted my Ansar members, then beat the children as well. Speaking to his family, I learned he has to be given two doctor-prescribed sleeping injections, but those medicines are not available at any pharmacy in Jamalganj. Besides, his wife is pregnant, which increased our worry further.'
She added, 'When I went to his home, I saw he had broken a glass and was behaving strangely. I was then forced to phone the police and the hospital's RMO, bring them to the house and start his primary treatment.'
The UNO said, 'I spoke to his father in the morning. His father told me he would be fine after sleeping for a few hours. I was surprised — such a person has been working in the civil service and we could not understand it. I inquired at his previous workplace as well and learned he is mentally unwell. I cannot understand why he made such a post. He ate my daughter's birthday cake, chatted with everyone, and then suddenly what happened, I did not understand. For now he has been asked to take treatment. I too want him to recover and return to his workplace.'
Jamalganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Bande Ali said, 'After receiving the UNO sir's phone call, I went to the scene with force. He informed me that the AC Land was behaving unusually. We then calmed him down, gave him primary treatment and arranged for him to sleep.'
The posts and behaviour of a government officer have become a topic of discussion across Jamalganj and Sunamganj. Attention now rests on his treatment — what doctors say after he is taken to Dhaka and when he can recover and return to work are now the main questions. Local people are also waiting to know whether the administration takes any further decision regarding him.
