Dhaka: The Ministry of Public Administration has promoted Barguna Sadar UNO (Upazila Executive Officer) Gazi Tariq Salmon to senior assistant secretary of cabinet division.

A gazette notification, signed by the ministry’s Senior Assistant Sectary Alia Meher, was issued on Monday stating the promotion of Tariq Salmon.

Beside Tariq, the ministry also promoted eight officials through the same notification.

Earlier, on 7 June, Obaidullah Saju filed the Tk 5-crore defamation case against the UNO on charge of publishing a ‘distorted’ photo of Bangabandhu at the invitation card issued on the occasion of the Independence Day.

The Bangabandhu’s portrait, which was drawn by a child during a painting competition organised by then UNO in Agailjhara upazila Salmon of Barisal district on the occasion of National Children’s Day marking the birthday of the Father of the Nation on 17 March, was used in the invitation card.

On 19 July last, Barisal CMM court sent UNO Salmon to jail after he surrendered before it in compliance with its order and sought bail in the defamation case.

Salmon was granted bail on a bond of Tk 10,000, hours after he landed in jail.

As the incident sparked off huge public outcry throughout the country, Awami League suspended Obaidullah Saju on 21 July for filing the Tk 5 crore defamation case over enthusiastically.

On 22 July, Six policemen who were on duty on the court premises when UNO Gazi Tariq Salman was sent to jail in a defamation case were closed to the District Police Lines.

On 23 July, a Barisal court quashed the defamation case against Gazi Tariq Salmon filed for publishing a ‘distorted photo’ of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the invitation card issued on the occasion of Independence Day.