DNCC magistrate jails her driver over ‘obstructing public function’
A Dhaka North City Corporation magistrate on Sunday jailed her driver for four months on charge of obstructing her in discharging her duty.
The magistrate Zinia Zinnat convicted her driver Md Forkan, an employee on master role, of obstructing public servant in discharge of public function.
The city corporation staff demonstrated protesting at the incident for hours in DNCC headquarters and finally the city corporation officials controlled the situation.
The agitated drivers chanted slogan against the magistrate and laid seize at the office of DNCC mayor until they calmed down in mediation of panel mayor and senior officers of DNCC and leaders of drivers’ association.
Executive magistrate Zinia Zinnat said that she informed her driver to pick her at 7:30am in the morning from her Banani residence as she had a meeting at Dhaka deputy commissioner’s office and supposed to conduct an eviction drive. But the driver came at 9:30am.
‘Neither did he arrive on time nor received my phone calls for that I missed both the meeting and the public function like to carry out eviction drive. As his action is equalled to “obstruct public function” I have awarded him four months simple imprisonment as per section 186 and 187 the penal 1860 and sent to Gulshan police station and later he will be landed to Dhaka sub jail,’ she said.
She also said that the driver misbehaved with her and disassociated her several times and she had informed her chief executive officer.
Regarding the protest she said, ‘I have given my verdict, they may appeal against it.’
Md Alimullah, a protesting driver, said that Forkan stuck in traffic jam that’s why he could not reach to pick the magistrate on time. Besides, he had some physical ailment that’s why he could not receive phone calls, he said.
He alleged that when Forkan reached the magistrate’s house, her husband misbehaved with him. ‘We want justice as the poor driver is now in prison and has lost his job,’ Alimullah added.
DNCC panel mayor Jamal Mustafa said, ‘We are trying to placate the drivers and looking for a way to come out of the impasse. Hope we will reach a peaceful solution after the discussion.’ (Source: New Age)
