Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has defended Barguna Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Gazi Tariq Salmon, former UNO of Agoiljhara upazila, who was harassed after using a sketch of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on an invitation card.
“The UNO did an appreciable job using the sketch of Bangabandhu which was drawn by a child in an art competition.
“No one has drawn an exact sketch of Bangabandhu as of now. The sketches which we use also have some flaws. These are not exact, I know.”
Hasina made the comments when she was informed about the harassment of the UNO, said several sources of Gonobhaban and Prime Minister’s Office.
Two sources at the PMO said during a discussion with officials over the incident on Thursday that the prime minister said the sketch drawn by a child of class V was not bad.
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“The kids have drawn Bangabandhu as they imagined him. The initiative of printing invitation cards using such a sketch is undoubtedly appreciable. It is also a big achievement that an art competition was arranged on Bangabandhu.
“A praiseworthy issue has been made controversial,” said Sheikh Hasina as she expressed her discontent over the harassment of the UNO.
She also said: “Whoever did this surely did not do the government as well as the party any favours. The judge who sent the government official to jail might have passed the order out of super pro-activeness or he might have been influenced by someone’s phone call.
“Now, whose phone call it was needs to be found out.
“Departmental permission is needed to take legal action against a government official. Did he take permission?” the premier said.
Several sources in Gonobhaban said the harassment of the UNO had caused strong reactions inside the government, and the prime minister has expressed her own opinion to tackle such situation.
The sources addaed that the premier was informed about the matter quite late, but she took rapid steps once informed.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
