Human Chain and Press Conference in Protest of Smear Campaign Against Gazipur District Council CEO.

Akramul Hossain, Staff Reporter. A human chain and press conference was held in protest of the alleged smear campaign against Md. Nazrul Islam (Deputy Secretary) Chief Executive Officer of Gazipur District Council. Organized under the banner of "Gazipurbashi" speakers at the program alleged that misleading information was being deliberately spread to tarnish the image of the District Council. The speakers said that under the leadership of Dr. Chowdhury Ishraq Ahmed Siddiqui (Bar-at-Law) Administrator of Gazipur District Council, 34 crore BDT from various FDRs held in different banks was transferred and consolidated into Sonali Bank, with approval from government rules and the concerned ministry. As a result, an FDR of 115 crore BDT in total has been formed. They claimed this has made the District Council's financial management more consolidated and stable. The speakers further claimed that this step has increased the financial capacity of the District Council and laid the foundation to ensure long-term stability in development activities. They also alleged that a vested interest group is hiding the real facts and spreading misleading propaganda about "62 crore BDT embezzlement" to create confusion among the public against the District Council and its officials. At the press conference, it was further alleged that a group deprived of tender-related benefits has been making defamatory and baseless allegations against Md. Nazrul Islam Deputy Secretary, CEO of Gazipur District Council, through human chains, press conferences, and statements in the media from time to time. The speakers called for intervention from the concerned authorities to stop such smear campaigns and conspiracies. They said that instead of obstructing the development activities of Gazipur District Council under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, everyone should play a constructive role in the public interest. Participants at the event urged to protect the image of Gazipur District Council, maintain transparency in government activities, and continue welfare-oriented development work.