Govt suspends UP chairman after arrest over journalist killing

He has been asked to explain why he would not be removed from his position permanently

The government has suspended Sadhurpara Union Council Chairman Mahmudul Alam Babu after he was arrested in a case over the murder of Jamalpur journalist Golam Rabbani Nadim.

The Local Government Division in a notice on Monday said authorities decided to issue a show-cause notice asking Babu, chairman of Bakshiganj Upazila’s No. 4 Sadhurpara Union Council, to explain why he would not be removed from his position permanently.

He has been asked to respond within 10 working days.

Sadhurpara Union Council Chairman Babu was arrested by the Rapid Action Batallion while hiding in a relative's house in Panchagarh on Saturday. He was subsequently placed in the custody of the police in Jamalpur.

Police arrested 13 people in relation to the incident and took nine of them in custody for questioning.

Nadim was a local correspondent for Bangla News 24 and Ekattor TV. He came under attack allegedly over reports against the public representative on Wednesday. He passed away in hospital care the next day, with doctors citing a head injury as the cause of death.

Nadim’s family said the 45-year-old journalist began receiving threats following his report against Mahmudul. The chairman started a case against Nadim and several others under the Digital Security Act, but the court scrapped it.

Nadim's wife, Monira Begum, filed the case with Bakshiganj Police Station on Saturday, the day Babu was arrested. The family claim that Nadim was beaten in the presence of Babu.

Babu was also the general secretary of Sadhurpara Union Awami League. He was expelled from the organisation following allegations of his involvement in the murder of Nadim.