Rangamati, August 7 (V7N) – A reported attempt to collect money from the Rangamati Sadar Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) under the banner of a political party has triggered strong reactions within the local administration, prompting concerns over the misuse of political identity for financial demands.
 
On Thursday afternoon, two individuals, including one named Sarvajit Chakma, allegedly entered the office of the Rangamati Sadar UNO and demanded Tk 10, thousands from the Administrative Officer. The incident has sparked a stir within the district administration. A senior administrative official confirmed the incident and stated that further steps will be taken once the Deputy Commissioner returns to Rangamati.
 
The allegation, which surfaced on August 7, claims that Sarvajit Chakma identified himself as a representative of the National Citizens' Party (NCP) and made a financial demand, first via a phone call on August 2 and later in person. When informed that political organizations cannot be granted development projects, Chakma reportedly suggested using the name of a cooperative society instead.
 
However, Bipin Jyoti Chakma, the chief coordinator of NCP in Rangamati district, denied any involvement of their party in the incident. He stated that the individual in question was affiliated with the Bangladesh Ganotantrik Chhatra Sangshad (BAGCHAS), not the NCP. According to him, the matter was a misunderstanding, and once he was informed, he spoke directly with the UNO to clarify the situation.
 
“He’s just a student, a young boy. He may not have realized the implications of what he said. We've spoken to the UNO and requested that such actions not be encouraged. We’ll also take internal disciplinary measures,” Bipin added.
 
When contacted by phone, Sarvajit Chakma denied the extortion allegations. He claimed that they were collecting donations under central party instruction to aid flood-affected communities in Baghaichhari. “We were trying to raise funds for humanitarian purposes. Many people asked us for help, and we’ve been gathering support personally, along with affiliated organizations,” he said.
 
Chakma further explained that they had reached out to the UNO seeking assistance, not to make demands. “We didn’t go there to extort money. The UNO reacted strongly the moment we entered the room. We only wanted financial support for distributing relief.”
 
He also acknowledged that while BAGCHAS does not have an official committee in Rangamati, they have been working in association with the NCP. “We’re coordinating with the central leadership, who are currently in Dhaka. We were advised to explore local government support as well.”
 
A confidential source in the district administration confirmed that on August 7 at around 1:40 PM, two individuals identifying themselves as NCP representatives appeared at the UNO office and asked for financial support. One of them had previously called the UNO's official number on August 2 and had also requested money or a development project. The official reminded them that projects are not distributed through political affiliations.
 
Before leaving, one of the visitors reportedly wished the UNO good luck in his future journey, a comment perceived as inappropriate given the context. The incident has been described as “embarrassing” in internal communications within the administration.
 
No formal complaint has been lodged yet, and further action may depend on the return of the district’s top official. The matter remains under close watch.
 
END/AMR/SMA/