The High Court yesterday lambasted Md Kaisar Khasru, Teknaf's upazila nirbahi officer, for hurling abuses towards a journalist.

Kaisar scolded a Dhaka Post correspondent Saidul Farhad for quoting the UNO on "damages on some houses gifted by the prime minister to the poor" in a report published on July 21.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat said, "The words reportedly used by the Teknaf UNO are objectionable, unfortunate and unacceptable. If it is true, his use of language is worse than that of goons.

"Only a wrong-headed person can use such abusive words. As a government high official, the UNO should have been more decent."

The observation was made after Supreme Court lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan placed a report published in the daily Prothom Alo and Dhaka Post on July 22.

The report was on UNO Kaisar Khasru "expressing sorrow" for misbehaving with with the correspondent.

Saidul used the UNO's quotes in the the story "Neechu Jaigay Nirman Kora Upoharer Ghor Panite Bhashchhe (Gifted houses built in low-lying area now float on water)", published on July 21.

Khurshid Alam requested the HC to issue necessary orders in this regard.

The bench said journalists are the mirrors of society.

"If a journalist commits a wrongdoing, complaints can be lodged with the Bangladesh Press Council or with the court. But one can't take the law intotheir own hands."

The HC then asked Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik to find out what steps were taken against the UNO by the authorities concerned and inform this court.

Speaking to The Daily Star, the DAG said, "I will talk to the deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar to know whether any steps were taken against UNO Kaisar."