Sylhet, Oct 17 (V7N) — Members of the July Revolutionary Alliance and local student activists in Sunamganj have submitted a memorandum to the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, demanding the removal of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. Mohammad Elias Mia over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.The memorandum, containing 13 allegations, was handed over at the Divisional Commissioner’s office in Sylhet on Thursday (October 16) at 5 p.m.
 
Following the submission, members of the July Revolutionary Alliance and local student groups held a brief human chain protest in front of the Divisional Commissioner’s office, calling for the immediate removal of the district administrator over allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The event was presided over by severely injured July fighter Md. Zahur Ali, convener of the Sunamganj District Committee of the July Revolutionary Alliance, and conducted by July fighter Md. Aftab Uddin.
 
Speakers at the human chain included Sheikh Emdadul Haque, general secretary of the district Liberal Democratic Party; N.D. Usman Gani, convener of the Bangladesh Democratic Student Council, Sunamganj branch; and Redwan Ahmed, joint convener of the Warriors of July. Other July fighters, including Md. Ukil Ali, Al Amin, Rojob Ali, Lokman Ahmad, Ramzan Mia, Siddique Ahmad, Zakaria Ahmad, Mashum Mia, Tanvir Ahmad, Imran Ali, Jewel Rana, Shrikanta Das, Abu Raihan, and Rahmat Ali, were also present.
 
Speakers claimed that despite a mass human chain and protest held on October 4 at Sunamganj Traffic Point demanding the removal of both the DC and Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Md. Rezaul Karim, only the ADM was withdrawn, leaving the “main instigator of corruption,” DC Dr. Elias Mia, untouched.
 
According to local accounts, Dr. Mohammad Elias Mia assumed office as Deputy Commissioner of Sunamganj on September 12, 2024. Shortly after taking charge, he met with political representatives, journalists, and July fighters to discuss administrative reforms and reconstruction in the post-movement period. During those meetings, journalists raised concerns over alleged irregularities during the previous government—such as illegal sand and stone extraction from the Jadukata and Dhopajan rivers, corruption in the Water Development Board’s projects, deterioration of law and order, and smuggling activities along the India-Bangladesh border.
 
However, the memorandum alleges that the DC failed to act on earlier commitments, including investigating those involved in an August 3 secret meeting—allegedly held by pro-government loyalists—to disrupt the anti-discrimination movement. That meeting, held at the Shaheed Jagatjyoti Public Library auditorium, reportedly led to violent clashes the following day. The DC had promised to recover CCTV footage and take disciplinary measures against those responsible but has since been accused of aligning himself with the same groups.
 
The July fighters and student leaders warned that if the Deputy Commissioner is not withdrawn immediately, they will announce more intense protest programs in the coming days.
 
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