Rejoinder and our reply

On February 11, 2024, The Daily Messenger published an article alleging the suspension of the Rotary Club of Bangladesh committee, accompanied by accusations of graft charges and anti-Rotary sentiments prevailing within our organization. In response to this deeply concerning report, Arif Zebtik and Ashrafuzzaman Nannu have vehemently protested.

Arif Zebtik said the article, which prominently featured my name and levied accusations of involvement in election engineering, is a matter of grave concern.

The aforementioned publication attributed statements to an unidentified source alleging that "Khairul Alam, Ashrafuzzaman Nannu, and Arif Jebtik demand an initial payment of Tk 50 lakhs. Otherwise, no one gets nominated."
It is pertinent to highlight that such assertions are demonstrably false and lack any factual basis, he said. “Moreover, the insinuation of involvement in a purported nomination process within the Rotary election, an assertion entirely divorced from reality, is a flagrant attempt to besmirch my reputation within society.”

Reporter’s Statement

On February 11, 2024, The Daily Messenger published a significant report concerning the termination of the governor and committee members of the Rotary Club of Bangladesh. The article features statements from six separate Rotarians, each expressing their concerns individually. Notably, these statements, though similar, were gathered independently from each other.

It's crucial to highlight that the report presents no personal opinions from the reporter; instead, it relies solely on the perspectives of respected individuals closely affiliated with Rotary. The statements provided by these individuals carry weight, backed by substantial evidence secured by the reporter.

The reporter engaged in conversation with the primary accused, Ashrafuzzaman Nannu, regarding his stance on the speech. Notably, Nannu did not refute the termination of himself and others implicated. However, the timing of the appointment as fiscal agent remains ambiguous within the report. Furthermore, the protest does not clarify whether the individuals mentioned are still in positions of authority.

The reporter possesses a letter from Rotary International containing a crucial excerpt: "This decision signifies the conclusion of your responsibilities as a district leader." Additionally, it indicates that the individuals have been disaffiliated from the district for a minimum of three years due to this decision. This letter serves as substantial evidence supporting the claims made in the report.

Ashrafuzzaman Nannu expressed his disappointment in the protest, stating that the matter was not thoroughly discussed with him. Despite numerous attempts to reach him via phone calls, he remained unreachable. However, he responded when contacted through WhatsApp. Given his pivotal role in the situation, it was expected that he would engage in a detailed discussion. Unfortunately, he squandered this opportunity himself. Instead of providing clear answers, he evaded several questions and refrained from explicitly denying any termination or suspension.

He vaguely mentioned that only the district had been de-districted, sidestepping the issue raised in the Rotary International letter. Subsequently, he abruptly ended the conversation. Regrettably, his behavior has rendered any further statements from him unreliable or unacceptable.

50 lakh taka was taken to make the governor and this money was taken by the syndicate this whole statement of the sources who wanted to be the governor. Along with, There is no statement by the reporter that has already been said. There is no word on whether Salim Reza and Khairul Alam are in charge or deposed. The main point is to de-district Rotary Bangladesh and terminate Ashrafuzzaman Nannu.

Ashrafuzzaman Nannu expressed his disappointment in the protest, stating that the matter was not thoroughly discussed with him. Despite numerous attempts to reach him via phone calls, he remained unreachable. However, he responded when contacted through WhatsApp. Given his pivotal role in the situation, it was expected that he would engage in a detailed discussion. Unfortunately, he squandered this opportunity himself. Instead of providing clear answers, he evaded several questions and refrained from explicitly denying any termination or suspension.

He vaguely mentioned that only the district had been de-districted, sidestepping the issue raised in the Rotary International letter. Subsequently, he abruptly ended the conversation. Regrettably, his behavior has rendered any further statements from him unreliable or unacceptable.