A photo that shows Monohardi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) from Narsingdi, Md Shahidullah, walking over the chests of youths at an educational institute, has gone viral on social media, stirring widespread criticism for the incongruous action, just like the other two incidents.
Noticeably, Shahidullah is the second government official, the other being Haimchar Upazila Chairman Nur Hossain Patwari, who was found to be associated with the questionable practice of walking over human bodies at a ceremony, over the past few days.
The photo reveals Shahidullah walking over the chests of youths while he clutches on to bamboos that he used as railings. A bunch of spectators surround him.
The Dhaka Tribune learned that the incident took place during a three-day Boishakhi Mela (fair) that was held by Monohardi Degree College last year.
According to locals, a group of lathials (persons who demonstrate a form of traditional martial art using sticks) from Kapasia upazila of Gazipur, formed the human bridge to show their physical skills. They say that the act was done for fun.
Admitting this, UNO Shahidullah said: “Forming human bridge is like a game.” He also claimed that he participated in the act due to the requests of the organisers and also awarded participants Tk2,500.
Asked if what he did was sensible, he replied: “They were not students of the college. They were all adults. I did it only to satisfy their caprice. However, from now on I should be careful as questions have been raised.”
A similar incident had taken place at another event in Jamalpur on January 29. Dildar Hossain Prince, who is the donor of the land on which Mahmudpur Multipurpose High School at Melandaha upazila is built, walked over a “human-bridge” formed by students at a farewell event in the same school.
A picture that shows Prince, who was invited to the school event, walking over the bodies of the students forming the bridge, had also gone viral on
social media.
Nur Hossain Patwari, the Haimchar Upazila chairman has been suspended from the position of general secretary of upazila unit Awami League.