Brahmanbaria-2 MP Barrister Rumeen Farhana has sought legal and departmental action against Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Nazrul Islam Choton for allegedly making offensive, defamatory and objectionable remarks about her in a Facebook post.

Rumeen, a Supreme Court lawyer, submitted a letter to Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal today, saying Choton had made the post from his personal Facebook account targeting her on September 11.

“I draw your attention with deep regret and resentment to the fact that Deputy Attorney General Nazrul Islam Choton, while holding an important position as a state law officer, made a highly objectionable, defamatory and vulgar post targeting me,” the letter said.

She said such “threatening, indecent, vulgar and motivated” behaviour by a serving government law officer was not only insulting to her as a woman and public representative, but also seriously undermined the image and professionalism of the Attorney General’s Office.

Rumeen said the Attorney General’s Office represented the state, not any political party, and that such use of social media by a DAG was “in no way acceptable”.

She urged the attorney general to consider the matter seriously and take departmental and appropriate legal action against Choton.

The letter did not elaborate on the specific contents of the Facebook post.

Rumeen could not be reached for comment despite several attempts over the telephone.

Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal told journalists at his office that he had asked Choton about the matter.

“He [Choton] explained to me that, very recently, he had uploaded an old video featuring Rumeen Farhana, who was previously a leader of BNP. The video contained her recent remarks as well as her description of the helplessness she had experienced during the fascist regime. In connection with the video, he commented, ‘...You forgot so quickly’,” the attorney general said.

“Personally, I consider this to be Mr Choton’s exercise of his right to express his independent opinion. The complaint submitted to this office does not appear to relate to any professional or administrative duty performed by him, nor does it constitute a matter warranting any administrative action," he added.

“Therefore, I am satisfied with Mr Choton’s explanation. In my view, there is no basis or scope for this office or the government to take any administrative action against Mr Choton in this matter,” Kazal added.