A large group of local residents blocked the highway on Friday afternoon to demand the withdrawal of the transfer order for Laksam Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kawsar Hamid and his reinstatement at the workplace. Protesters, led by student activists and locals, staged a road blockade and held a demonstration.

UNO Kawsar Hamid appeared at the site and appealed to the crowd to vacate the road, but protesters rejected her request. Overcome with emotion, the UNO began to cry and embraced several demonstrators, saying, “The love I have received from you all is the greatest treasure of my career. I want everyone in the upazila to be well.” She also explained the realities of government service, noting that transfers prevent permanent settlement in any one place and acknowledging both the support she received from colleagues, elected representatives and community leaders and the possibility that her work may have upset some people. “If I have unknowingly hurt anyone or treated anyone unfairly, I apologize,” she said.

The demonstrators warned they would maintain the blockade and continue protests unless the transfer order was withdrawn. About two hours after the blockade began, at around 6:00 pm, the arrival of military personnel prompted the protesters to disperse.