Bera Municipality Mayor Abdul Baten allegedly misbehaved with UNO Asif Anam Siddiquee during a meeting at the latter's office yesterday over endorsing a proposal placed by the mayor.

In the upazila law and order development coordination meeting yesterday, the mayor wanted the UNO to give the go-ahead to his proposal. Baten proposed that the income from leasing of Nagarbari ghat and Kazirhat ghat, both in Bera upazila, should go to the upazila parishad fund for its development, said meeting sources.

As the upazila nirbahi officer refused to comply, the mayor hurled abuse at him. Baten then walked towards the UNO and a push and shove took place, they added.

At one stage, the mayor walked out of the meeting.

Currently, the lease income goes to government's revenue account.

Speaking to The Daily Star, UNO Asif said the mayor's proposal did not comply with the government rules. "As I tried to explain the matter, the mayor pressed me to stop talking."

He said he would submit a written complain to the higher authorities in this regard.

Pabna Deputy Commissioner Kabir Mahamud said the mayor put pressure on the UNO to sign the resolution on the lease income.

"We have already informed to the higher authorities about the incident. Necessary steps will be taken in this regard," the DC told journalists.

Mayor Baten, also the brother of Pabna-1 lawmaker Samsul Haque Tuku, said Nagarbari and Kazirhat ghats are "properties of the local area".

"As the representatives of the people, we have responsibilities for the area. There are two large ghats in Bera upazila -- Nagarbari Ghat and Kazirhaat ghat. The local administration has been leasing out the ghats for years, but the upazila parishad does not get any fund from the lease money." the mayor told this correspondent.

He said he as a representative of the upazila parishad at the meeting proposed that the administration should give the lease income to the upazila parishad for its development. "As they disagreed with my proposal, I boycotted the meeting."

The mayor, however, denied the allegation of misbehaving with the UNO and other officials.