Human chain and submission of memorandum in Pabna

Local business leaders, political activists, and civil society representatives gathered in Pabna on Sunday to stage a human chain and submit a formal memorandum to the District Commissioner, accusing Khaled Hossain Parag, the official photographer to the Prime Minister, of extortion, tender manipulation, and land grabbing.

Organised under the banner of the Pabna Conscious Citizens’ Committee, the demonstration took place during the afternoon along Abdul Hamid Road in front of the Pabna Press Club. Participants expressed deep concern over the alleged misuse of official authority, calling upon the central government to take immediate administrative and disciplinary action.

Key figures who addressed the gathering included Noor Hossain Leon, Joint Convenor of the Pabna Conscious Citizens’ Committee; Sajib Sardar, local leader of the Youth Nationalist Party (Jubodol); Ibrahim Rana, former Joint Convenor of the District Jubodol; Tanjid Anwar, a local entrepreneur; engineer and July uprising participant Abdullah Karim Tanmoy; journalist Mubarak Biswas; and Imamur Rahman, Director of the Pabna Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Addressing the crowd, speakers alleged that Parag—who also serves as the Convenor of the Pabna district unit of Jasas—began abusing his official status shortly after being appointed as a photographer at the Prime Minister’s Office. According to the demonstrators, he has systematically targeted local traders and contractors for extortion. Speakers further accused him of orchestrating illegal land seizures and manipulating local government tender processes.

Protesters claimed that Parag used his proximity to the prime minister’s official office to intimidate those who refused to comply with his demands, whilst launching smear campaigns against journalists and business figures who attempted to expose his conduct. Local BNP leaders present at the rally noted that his actions were severely damaging the reputation of both the government and local political organisations.

Speakers urged the public in Pabna to boycott Parag socially, while calling on the prime minister to strip him of his official post without delay. They stressed that relevant administrative and law enforcement agencies already possess detailed information regarding his activities, which a formal investigation would easily verify.

Although local residents originally welcomed Parag’s national appointment with pride, demonstrators emphasised that his conduct has left local business owners, contractors, and journalists increasingly distressed. Following the protest outside the press club, a delegation marched to the District Commissioner’s office to hand over a formal memorandum addressed to the prime minister, outlining their demands for a thorough inquiry and his immediate dismissal.