Lalmai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Forkan Elahi Anupam has been transferred to Rangamati hill district after he threatened to fire an imam and drown him in water for asking the public servant to sit in a queue during Jummah prayers.
The order was issued in a notification signed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shamim Alam on Sunday night.
The notification said Lalmai UNO Md Forkan Elahi Anupam has been transferred to Barkal upazila of Rangamati district. Feni's Chhagalnaiya UNO Moumita Das has been appointed in his place.
In this regard, Comilla Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Pankaj Barua said that government employees can be transferred anywhere at any time. This is a regular function of the administration.
On October 13, UNO Anupam threatened Imam Maulana Abul Bashar for asking him to move a little to maintain a queue in a local mosque.
Imam Maulana Abul Bashar explained that he requested worshippers to straighten the rows. One of the worshippers in the same row happened to be Lalmai UNO Md Forkan Elahi Anupam, whom the imam did not recognize.
The imam recounted the incident, stating that the UNO called him and the muezzin to the south side of the mosque after the prayers.
When someone present there asked if he knew the UNO, the imam said he did not. The UNO then became agitated, threatening to immerse him in water and questioning his qualifications.
The incident sparked widespread criticism after it circulated on social media.