A wave of public anger and widespread criticism has erupted across Lakshmipur district following the emergence of a viral TikTok video showing an unauthorised young man seated in the official chair of a senior government officer in Kamalnagar Upazila. The incident, which highlights severe administrative negligence and breach of security within a public service institution, has led to formal disciplinary action against an office staff member and a police record being lodged against the youth.
The video surfaced on social media platforms on Tuesday evening, swiftly triggering intense backlash from local residents and service seekers. The youth involved has been identified as Ovi Mahmud, an outsider with no official affiliation or employment status at the facility. In the viral footage, Mahmud is seen sitting in the primary executive chair of the Kamalnagar Upazila Social Services Officer, performing various gestures to the rhythm of a popular TikTok track. He subsequently rises from the desk to pose across different sections of the office interior. Crucially, the camera explicitly captures the officer’s official nameplate on the desk, alongside scattered administrative dossiers, official files, and public records.
Local residents and citizens visiting the department have voiced profound frustration over how an outsider managed to gain unrestricted access to a sensitive government workspace, occupy a public officer’s designated chair, and film promotional content without hindrance. Service seekers expressed dismay, noting the stark contrast between the treatment of ordinary citizens—who frequently endure long queues and bureaucratic delays for basic services—and the unhindered access granted to individuals compromising government dignity.
Official investigations conducted by the upazila administration revealed that the video was recorded on 4 November. On that date, the Upazila Social Services Officer, Bazlul Karim, was absent from his station while attending a professional training programme in Comilla. Taking advantage of the supervisory vacuum, Mahmud entered the premises unhindered. Addressing the oversight, Babul Hossain, a social worker attached to the office, stated that staff members were heavily preoccupied on the day with administrative duties regarding the government’s Family Card distribution initiative, adding uncertainty over whether the footage could have been manipulated using artificial intelligence. Multiple attempts to contact Officer Bazlul Karim via telephone for official clarification remained unsuccessful as he did not take the calls.
The local administration has taken immediate corrective measures. Rahat Uz Zaman, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Kamalnagar, confirmed that the youth was summoned to the administrative headquarters following the video’s circulation. Authorities extracted a formal written undertaking (muchlekha) from Mahmud, in which he confessed to entering the office without permission, admitted his error in damaging public dignity, and pledged not to repeat such actions. He was subsequently released into the custody of his legal guardians, while a General Diary (GD) was lodged with the local police station to facilitate future legal proceedings should further infractions occur. Additionally, the staff member entrusted with office oversight on the day of the incident has been issued a formal show-cause notice demanding an explanation for the security lapse.
