Magistrate Sarawat Mehzabeen has been accused of misuse of authority, harassment and coercive fine collection during the Dhaka North City Corporation’s Aedes mosquito eradication campaign in the Mohammadpur area of the capital.
A complaint was lodged on Monday afternoon by Emdadul Haq, addressing Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam.
In the complaint, Emdadul detailed an incident on Monday where Sarwat conducted a raid in Chandrima Model Town, Mohammadpur, alleging the presence of Aedes mosquito larvae in his house.
Emdadul, a hajj returnee, contested this assertion, as he had only recently returned and thus, his residence may not have been cleared of larvae.
He stated that the magistrate began to behave improperly towards him.
Emdadul, nearly 70 years old and battling conditions such as diabetes, said that he has a respectable standing at his long-term residence.
He claimed the magistrate imposed a Tk3 lakh fine on him, picking up his building’s caretaker and asking him to pay the fine if he wanted the caretaker to be released. Under pressure, Emdadul's wife and business partner were coerced into signing a paper detailing the exchange, with threats of being sent to Keraniganj jail.
“I paid the Tk3 lakh and got him released.”
Emdadul Haq's contentions are centred around Section 291 of the Penal Code of 1860, which addresses the continuation of public riots despite prohibition. He argued that his fine was imposed without any such directive or prohibition. Section 269, which pertains to negligent acts causing the spread of life-threatening diseases, was invoked to enforce the fine, despite the absence of any disease apprehension as stated by Emdadul.
Emdadul’s son Zia Haque noted that ongoing construction at their house led to minor water accumulation around construction equipment, primarily rainwater.
He questioned the presence of Aedes mosquito larvae in such water and speculated that city corporations might be imposing fines to meet certain targets.
Magistrate Sarwat Mehzabeen, involved in the campaign, emphasized the rising dengue outbreak and the need for door-to-door inspections by magistrates in the Dhaka North City Corporation's jurisdiction.
The presence of mosquito larvae was detected in the water near a construction site during a raid at a house in Chandrima Model Town.
Sarwat noted that even construction materials could harbour larvae. The residents, however, were uncooperative and expressed their inability to pay the fine during the interaction.
Dhaka North City Corporation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salim Reza was unavailable for comment when contacted regarding this matter.