Barisal Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Md. Kabir Hossain Patwari, who came under discussion for allegations of cheating, dowry demands and physical and mental torture of women in the name of marriage, has been temporarily suspended. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change took this decision after receiving preliminary evidence of 17 marriages one after another using the position of the Forest Department.

The matter of the suspension was announced in a notification signed by the Ministry's Secretary Farhina Ahmed on Tuesday (September 16).

The notification said that departmental action has been taken against Kabir Hossain on charges of misconduct as per Rule 3(b) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules-2018. In addition, it has been deemed necessary and appropriate to suspend him temporarily as per Rule 12(1).

During the suspension, he will receive food allowance as per the rules and will be attached to the office of the Rangpur Divisional Forest Officer.

Kabir Hossain himself confirmed the dismissal to the media on Wednesday morning.

Suspended twice, reinstated on the recommendation of the minister

Earlier, he was suspended twice for allegedly using his position in the forest department to trap women. However, he was reinstated on the recommendation of former minister Dipu Moni.

On April 9 this year, Khadija Akhter, a resident of Sonadanga area of ​​Khulna, filed a written complaint with the Forest and Environment Advisor alleging fraud, dowry demands and torture in the name of marriage. Earlier, in 2019, Nasrin Akhter Dolan, a resident of Mongla, Bagerhat, filed a case in court on the same charges, which is still pending.

Following the new allegations, the ministry formed an investigation committee on April 9. On September 11, the investigation officer, Joint Secretary of the ministry Saidur Rahman, went to Barisal to conduct an on-site investigation. At that time, he took written statements from the victims, including their two wives. The victims formed a human chain and demanded exemplary punishment for Kabir Hossain.

He was suspended as part of the departmental punishment after the investigation found the allegations to be prima facie true.

Along with the suspension, state lawyer Hafiz Ahmed Bablu filed a case against him at the Barisal Metropolitan Court on Tuesday. The court has assigned the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate the case.

Kabir Hossain, son of Mosharraf Hossain Patwari of Tushpur village under Matlab police station in Chandpur, has previously served in various districts including Dhaka, Khulna, Sirajganj and Bagerhat.