Residents from different walks of life staged a protest in Sylhet on Monday, demanding the cancellation of the transfer order of Deputy Commissioner Md Sarwar Alam.
The demonstrators gathered in front of the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner's Office from around 11am under the banner of "Sylhet residents from all walks of life."
When Sarwar Alam arrived at the Collectorate, protesters escorted him to his office while chanting slogans, including "Sylhet residents need DC Sarwar" and "Hypocrisy over the shrine will not be tolerated."
The protest program was presided over by Maulana Syed Shamim Ahmed, principal of Shamimabad Madrasa. Among others, Shaykhul Hadith Maulana Shah Momshad Ahmed, principal of Kazirbazar Madrasa, addressed the gathering.
Speakers alleged that the transfer of Sarwar Alam was the result of a conspiracy and vowed to continue their movement until the order is withdrawn.
"The transfer of a popular deputy commissioner like Sarwar Alam has angered the people of Sylhet," Shah Momshad Ahmed said.
Following the demonstration in front of the DC office, protesters brought out a procession that marched to Court Point in the city. A sit-in program was continuing there until the filing of this report at around 1:30pm.
At a separate rally held at Court Point under the banner of "Conscious Citizens of Sylhet," participants called on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to intervene and reinstate the deputy commissioner.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification transferring Sarwar Alam from his post as deputy commissioner of Sylhet and appointing him as a deputy secretary at the ministry.
The notification did not mention any reason for the transfer.
