Info secy sent on forced retirement
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Information Secretary ATM Fazlul Karim was sent on retirement Monday, a day after he was sued for allegedly defaming the independence leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, through his poetry, reports bdnews24.com.
A government announcement said Monday afternoon Karim would go on retirement immediately.
Known as Abu Karim among poets, the civil servant, who was given the job on January 19, was sued by the Awami Ulema League president Mohammad Ilyas Hossain bin Helali Sunday.
The government gave no reason for his forced retirement, but invoked a rule that gave the authorities unlimited powers to terminate civil servants on completion of 25 years in service.
The announcement just said he was being retired since he had 'completed 25 years of service'.
A newspaper published excerpts from his allegorical writing in which he allegedly depicted the leader of Bangladesh's independence war and his three sons in a manner deemed defamatory by the religious front of the ruling Awami League (AL).
One of the witnesses named by bin Helali is Amader Shomoy editor Naimul Islam Khan. The paper published the excerpts Friday last.
The issue has since caused quite an uproar, and the youth activists of the ruling party have warned of dire consequences if no action is taken against the civil servant.
The publisher of the book has already closed its outlet at the annual Ekushey Book Fair on the Bangla Academy premises in Dhaka.
A government announcement said Monday afternoon Karim would go on retirement immediately.
Known as Abu Karim among poets, the civil servant, who was given the job on January 19, was sued by the Awami Ulema League president Mohammad Ilyas Hossain bin Helali Sunday.
The government gave no reason for his forced retirement, but invoked a rule that gave the authorities unlimited powers to terminate civil servants on completion of 25 years in service.
The announcement just said he was being retired since he had 'completed 25 years of service'.
A newspaper published excerpts from his allegorical writing in which he allegedly depicted the leader of Bangladesh's independence war and his three sons in a manner deemed defamatory by the religious front of the ruling Awami League (AL).
One of the witnesses named by bin Helali is Amader Shomoy editor Naimul Islam Khan. The paper published the excerpts Friday last.
The issue has since caused quite an uproar, and the youth activists of the ruling party have warned of dire consequences if no action is taken against the civil servant.
The publisher of the book has already closed its outlet at the annual Ekushey Book Fair on the Bangla Academy premises in Dhaka.