BNP and its affiliated organizations staged a human chain and protest in Santhia, Pabna alleging irregularities and favoritism in hiring information collectors and supervisors for the Family Card Project and demanded the removal of Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Riju Tamanna.
The protest was held in front of the Santhia Upazila Parishad's main gate on Thursday around noon. Former BNP leaders Md. Fazlul Bari Santu, Shajahana Ali and Harunor Rashid Majnu joined activists from the party's affiliated wings across several unions.
Speakers alleged that transparency and impartiality were not maintained during recruitment with claiming qualified candidates were overlooked in favor of nepotism. They said hiring for major social programs like the Family Card Project must remain transparent and accountable and called for an investigation and action against anyone responsible for irregularities.
They demanded the current recruitment process be cancelled and redone based on merit and transparency while the matter is investigated. They also renewed calls for UNO Riju Tamanna's immediate removal.
Responding to the allegations Tamanna denied any wrongdoing also saying verbal accusations were not enough without supporting documents. He noted that hundreds of applicants had applied and some would inevitably be excluded, adding that the recruitment was conducted on a neutral and transparent basis. He said no written complaint had been filed against the process so far.
