The national flag has not been hoisted at Lalmonirhat passport office after the inauguration of the new office.
A visit to the office on Tuesday found the flag stand empty.
Moments after noticing the presence of journalists, an Ansar member on duty, identified as Mozammel, was seen hastily attempting to hoist the flag.
According to the National Flag Rules 1972 (amended 2023), all government offices and educational institutions are required to hoist the national flag on working days.
However, the Lalmonirhat passport office has allegedly not been following the rule.
Locals said they have repeatedly complained to the authorities since the construction of the new office building, but no action has been taken.
Shafiullah, a service seeker from Velabari union of Aditmari upazila, said, “I see the national flag flying at all other government offices in Lalmonirhat. I have come to this passport office twice in the past 15 days but never saw the flag hoisted.”
Freedom fighter Hossain Ali, deputy commander of the Lalmonirhat district Muktijoddha Sangsad, expressed anger over the incident.
“Not hoisting the flag on a full working day during Victory Month is unfortunate. This is nothing but irresponsibility. The government should look into the matter seriously,” he said.
However, the passport office’s assistant director, Nahid Newaz, offered a different view.
He said the flag must be hoisted only on government-declared days and that there is no mandatory requirement to hoist it daily, though offices may do so if they wish.
