Social welfare officer suspended for beating rickshaw puller in Rajshahi
The Ministry of Social Welfare said such behaviour has severely damaged the reputation of both the ministry and the Department of Social Welfare
Zahid Hasan Rasel, social welfare officer of Rajshahi's Paba upazila, has been temporarily suspended for beating up a rickshaw puller with shoes and sticks.
The Ministry of Social Welfare issued the suspension order yesterday (3 March) through its Administration-5 (Administration and Discipline) branch.
A copy of the notification signed by Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Md Mohiuddin, has been published on the ministry's website.
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The notification stated that a video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows Zahid Hasan mercilessly beating the rickshaw puller. News reports on the incident have also been widely published.
The ministry noted that such behaviour has severely damaged the reputation of both the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Department of Social Welfare. It further stated that as a government employee, Zahid Hasan's actions were improper, in violation of job discipline, and constituted a punishable offence.
He was suspended under the Government Service Act and the Government Employee (Discipline and Appeal) Rules. The order also stated that he would receive a subsistence allowance as per regulations, and the suspension would take effect immediately in the public interest.
The incident came to light after CCTV footage went viral on Friday, showing Zahid Hasan beating the rickshaw puller with his shoes in front of a government quarters. He was later seen retrieving a stick from the trunk of a car and continuing the assault while using obscene language.
Following the video's circulation, Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner Afia Akhtar instructed the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) on Saturday to investigate the matter and submit a report.
In response, the UNO formed a three-member inquiry committee on Sunday. However, the ministry issued the suspension order before the investigation was completed.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Zahid Hasan posted a status on his Facebook account that reads, "Hasn't such an incident happened in anyone else's life? I have done wrong. But was such a big punishment due to me?"
