Secretaries and divisional commissioners do not agree with the statement of Bangladesh Administrative Services Association (BASA) over the recent conflict between Barishal City Corporation authorities and the local administration, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam has said.

"I had a meeting with secretaries yesterday [Sunday]. They disagreed with the statement. The language used in it was not right," he said.

Anwarul further said that even the BASA members present at Sunday's meeting did not endorse the language used in the statement that sought immediate arrest of the BCC Mayor and legal action against him.

"Use of such language was not welcome," he told reporters in reply to a query at a briefing after a cabinet meeting yesterday.

The development came hours after the local administration, the BCC and leaders of the Awami League at a meeting decided to settle the dispute.

At least 50 people were injured on August 18 in a clash between BCC staffers -- reportedly followers of the BCC mayor and members of local AL units --, and police and Ansar members over removal of banners from UNO's office in Barishal Sadar.

Later, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Munibur Rahman and police filed two cases over the incident, naming BCC Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah as the prime accused for instigating the violence. Local AL men were also accused in the cases.

On the other hand, two cases were filed against the UNO -- one by Barishal city AL member and Councillor Rafiqul Islam Khokon and the other by BCC Revenue Officer Babul Haldar.

In a statement on August 19, the BASA demanded immediate arrest of the BCC Mayor and legal action against him.

The association also said it thinks the incident took place at the behest of the BCC mayor.

Asked, Anwarul said, "I don't know what had actually happened. We've asked the mayor, [divisional] commissioner and law enforcement agencies to sit and find out the reason behind it. Why would such an embarrassing incident take place?

"They've sought time to sort it out…

"We're observing the situation closely… In most cases, we find that such untoward incidents occur due to miscommunication.

"The Cabinet Division and the LGRD ministry have already instructed the administration, law enforcement agencies and public representatives in Barishal to stay in touch regularly," added the cabinet secretary.

On Sunday night, top officials of Barisal Division administration, the BCC and AL leaders held a meeting and decided to settle the dispute.

Talking to our Barishal correspondent, Divisional Commissioner Saiful Islam Badol said, "The problem has been resolved in a befitting manner."

In a press release yesterday, the BCC said the unfortunate incident took place due to misunderstanding between the BCC cleaning staffers and the UNO.

The misunderstanding has been resolved, and the city administration and the district administration will work unitedly, it mentioned.

Contacted, Barishal City AL President AKM Jahangir said the cases would be withdrawn and a settlement over the issue would be reached soon.