The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) under the Information Ministry is in a disarray following feud between two groups of employees, sources said.

Police said the feuding groups belong to two former director generals (DG). Both the groups locked in violent clashes recently tarnishing the image of the government organisation. Both the groups filed cases and counter cases accusing each other of various criminal acts. Ramna police said at least four criminal cases were filed by the two groups in this connection.

According to sources, Md Alauddin, personal assistant to DG of the PIB, filed a case on November 20 accusing 12 employees for attempt on his life. He also alleged that he was forced by those 12 accused to sign an undertaking which read: "I am taking away some documents at the directives of the immediate past DG Mridula Bhattachariya," Mridula has been transferred to the Parliament Secretariat on November 20.

Another employee Shahela Akhter, a PIB reporter, also filed a case alleging that some of the PIB employees had stolen official documents under her possession. On the other hand, Ratna Bijoy Saha, a deputy director (DD) of the PIB, filed a counter case on November 22, accusing PA Alauddin of attempting to take away official documents following the directives of immediate past DG Mridula Bhattachariya.

DD Ratna Bijoy Saha also filed another case countering the allegation of Shahela Akhter.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Wahiduzzaman of Ramna thana told The New Nation, "The employees of the PIB is divided into two groups due to the feud between the two former DGs."

When contacted, acting DG Syed Ali Haider said, "DD Ratna Bijoy Saha filed the cases on behalf of me."

Replying to a question, he said departmental actions would be taken against Alauddin and his associates.

Mridula Bhattachariya said, "I have nothing to say about the present condition of the PIB as I am no more in office."

In reply to a query, she said, "All the matters are under investigation and let the investigation be completed."

According to PIB sources, soon after the present Caretaker Government came to power, Mridula Bhattachariya replaced former DG Rezowan Hossain Siddiqi.

The government also formed a committee to probe various allegations against former DG Rezoan Siddiqi. Besides, some of the followers of Rezowan Siddiqui, including his son Ovik Adnan Siddiqui who is a photographer of the PIB, could not accept the change, the PIB sources said.

Those who were not the followers of Siddiqui had become the followers of Mridula Bhattachariya. Thus the PIB become divided into two groups.