National Sports Council (NSC) PABX Assistant (now posted in Finance Department) Saleha Sultana Najma passed away suddenly today (Thursday). His colleagues claimed that he died on the way after feeling ill while working in the National Sports Council. Later, the employees’ union demanded the removal of NSC secretary Aminul Islam due to his death.
In front of the Jatiya Krira Parishad building, the employees also locked the eighth and ninth floor offices of NSC. National Sports Council Class IV Employees Organization Union. Acting President of this organization Habib and Publicity Secretary Salim Mia led this human chain. They raised slogans demanding the removal of the secretary.
Campaign Secretary Salim Miah said, ‘We lost our sister today because of the Secretary’s behavior. Everyone in the office is afraid of him. Najma also came in a sick body due to the fear of grief. He didn’t get leave. None of us could stand by him (Secretary).’
Other officials were also in solidarity with the employees of the National Sports Council. Although they were not directly involved in the movement, they were behind the scenes. Almost all the officials working in the Sports Council are unhappy with the conduct and activities of Secretary Aminul Islam. The NSC has four directors besides the secretary. who are also Bangladesh Civil Service officers. The secretary sent letters of condolence and advice to one or two of them and to many of the lower ranks. The comments of many working in the National Sports Council, the secretary kicks the chair-table and sometimes makes incoherent comments and behavior.
National Sports Council Secretary Aminul Islam refuted the allegations raised and said, ‘We are saddened by the departure of a colleague. As soon as I heard the matter, I gave the necessary work instructions for religious and social rituals, and also talked about looking into the financial benefits of him being our staff. First of all I am not the one who granted his leave. I was totally unaware of his holiday needs. We are far behind in meeting the target of Sheikh Russell Mini Stadium. Advisory vigilance letters have been given to the concerned project manager to strive to meet that target. For the sake of discipline in the conduct of the office, rules and regulations regarding dress and accessories are asked to be followed. To say more than that is to increase it and do me an injustice.’
The officers and employees of the National Sports Council are usually used to working on the loose. Even if they had office in the morning, they used to come after noon, sometimes they didn’t even come. Parimal Singh, the recently departed secretary of the National Sports Council, has forced everyone to follow the office schedule with a strict hand. After that, many people got used to it. Parimal Singh was transferred to another ministry in the second week of January. Aminul Islam, who replaced Parimal, was on leave for one month out of three months. In just two months, the actions and especially the behavior of the new secretary have been questioned by many.
A heated situation has been created in the National Sports Council since noon today. In the afternoon and early evening, Joint Secretary (Sports) Sanaul Haque from the Ministry of Youth and Sports came to monitor the situation. The union leaders raised all the complaints before him. He assured them, ‘We will inform your statement to the Honorable Minister and Secretary. They will review the matter and take further decision. You trust the minister and the secretary.’
There are also questions about the actions of many union leaders. Especially in the construction work under the jurisdiction of the National Sports Council, a couple of people of this union have a big role. Despite being fourth class employees, they are financially well off.
National Sports Council is an organization under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Its chairman is the Minister of Youth and Sports. Vice Chairman Ministry Secretary. An officer of the rank of Joint Secretary serves as the Secretary of the National Sports Council as the Chief of Staff. All federations, district-divisional organizations are intimately involved with the National Sports Council. The new minister Nazmul Hasan Papon did not come to the National Sports Council for more than three to four days in more than three months.
AZ/AHS
