The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has suspended Barishal Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Md Kabir Hossain Patwari over allegations of marrying 17 women through fraud and deception. The order was issued on Tuesday (September 16) afternoon, directing his attachment to the Rangpur Range.

At the same time, Dr Md Zahidur Rahman Mia, Divisional Forest Officer (Deputy Conservator of Forests) of Patuakhali, has been given additional charge as acting DFO of Barishal.

Mihir Kumar Dey, Conservator of Forests (Coastal Region, Barishal), confirmed the matter to the media.

Kabir Hossain allegedly lured women into marriage by promising government jobs, opportunities to study abroad, or careers as flight attendants, as well as by offering property.

On September 11, victims and members of civil society staged a human chain in front of the Conservator of Forests office in Barishal city’s Kashipur area, where women from different districts claimed they had been deceived into marrying him.

On Tuesday afternoon, Advocate Hafiz Ahmed Bablu, Public Prosecutor of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, filed a case against Kabir Hossain Patwari with the Metropolitan First Magistrate Court. Judge Md Sadiq Ahmed accepted the case and directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to submit a report.

Advocate Bablu said Kabir Hossain, a resident of Matlab in Chandpur district, had married 17 women while serving in Dhaka, Khulna, Sirajganj, Bagerhat, and other districts. 

The complaint said that concealing his first marriage and entering into multiple marriages constitutes a violation of Muslim Family Law and a serious offense against religious and social values.

MN/