Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddique allegedly beat an engineer of the Power Development Board (PDB) in Tangail’s Kalihati Upazila on Friday night.
Sub Assistant Engineer (Sales and Distribution) of Kalihati PDB office Purna Chandra Pal said he had been to minister’s house and discussed present power supply condition in the upazila.
Noting that the newly elected upazila chairman and UNO of Kalihati were present at that time, Purna Chandra said: "At one stage the minister at his home at Munshipara Bazar road in Kalihati Upazila beat me with a stick."
The incident took place around 8pm, the Sub Assistant Engineer said.
He got injuries on his head and received treatment at Kalihati Upazila Health Complex.
As reporters met Pal at his home on Saturday morning and asked about the incident, he said he had met the minister again after receiving treatment to ask him why the minister beat him.
He also said he had submitted an application to Diploma engineers association demanding justice.
President of Tangail PDB Diploma Engineers Association Engineer Md Rafiqul Islam told that the minister had summoned the Executive Engineer of sales and distribution of Kalihati PDB office to discuss the power cuts and electricity-related allegations from the constituency on Friday evening.
Rafiqul Islam also said he heard that Purna Chandra Pal kept his hands in his trouser’s pockets while standing in front of the minister. “The minister at first scorned him and hit him at one point with a stick.”
When contacted over phone, Siddique, who is also a presidium member of the ruling Awami League, told Dhaka Tribune: “It does not matter whether the incident goes against or in favour of me. I will not make comment.”
