Staff Reporter :
The government has removed the mayors of 12 city corporations, including Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, and Atiqul Islam, Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation.
This decision comes in the wake of the enactment of the *Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024*.
This move, which is effective immediately, utilises Section 13(ka) of the new ordinance, permitting the removal of mayors from their positions. In light of this, the government has appointed new administrators to manage the affected city corporations.
The newly appointed administrators are as follows:
Dhaka South City Corporation: Mohammad Sher Ali, Additional Secretary of the Local Government Division. Dhaka North City Corporation: Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan, Director General of the Local Government Division. Chattogram City Corporation: Md. Ashraf Uddin, Divisional Commissioner of Chattogram. Khulna City Corporation: Md. Moniruzzaman, Divisional Commissioner of Khulna.
Rajshahi City Corporation: Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi. Sylhet City Corporation: Dr. Anwar Hossain, Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet. Barishal City Corporation: Dr. Md. Golam Mostafa, Divisional Commissioner of Barishal. Narayanganj City Corporation: A.H.M. Kamruzzaman, Additional Secretary of the Local Government Division. Cumilla City Corporation: Md. Jasim Uddin, Director General of the Bangladesh Rural Development Academy (BRDA) and Additional Secretary. Rangpur City Corporation: Md. Mahmudul Hasan, Divisional Commissioner of Rangpur. Gazipur City Corporation: Md. Hasanuzzaman, Divisional Commissioner of Gazipur. Mymensingh City Corporation: Dr. Mohammad Moinul Islam, Divisional Commissioner of Mymensingh.
These administrators will oversee the operations of their respective city corporations until further notice, as stipulated under Section 25(ka), Subsection (1) of the ordinance.
In a broader administrative overhaul, the Local Government Division has also removed 876 public representatives, including 60 Zilla Parishad council chairmen, 493 Upazila chairmen, and 323 municipal mayors, as of 18 August.
Additionally, the chairmanship of the Naogaon Zilla Parishad has been declared vacant following the death of the incumbent. Administrators have been appointed for all 61 Zilla Parishads across the country.
The government has also appointed 495 Upazila Nirbahi Officers as Upazila Parishad administrators. Meanwhile, seven municipal administrators have been relieved of their duties.
The interim government’s advisory council approved amendments to several local government ordinances on 16 August, with the President issuing the related ordinance on 17 August.
These amendments grant the government authority to remove public representatives and appoint administrators in exceptional circumstances, particularly when public interest concerns arise.
Meanwhile, a total of 876 local representatives, including district council chairmen, upazila chairmen, and municipality mayors, have been relieved of their duties across the country.
The Local Government Division (LGD) of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives issued the directive in an official circular.
Among those suspended, 60 are district council chairmen, 493 are upazila chairmen, and 323 are municipality mayors, according to the circular.
In a related development, a separate circular announced the appointment of 495 upazila nirbahi officers (executive officers) as municipality mayors. These officials have been tasked with assuming administrative responsibilities in the absence of the previously elected officials.
It was reported that many chairmen and mayors from the Zilla Parishad and municipalities have gone into hiding following the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country on 5 August.
In addition to these appointments, the government has designated additional divisional commissioners (general) as administrators for the eight divisions of Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Barishal, Rangpur, Sylhet, Khulna, and Mymensingh.
The administrators will oversee operations and perform their duties in their respective districts until further notice.
According to the circular, these administrators will receive a duty allowance but will not be provided with a salary or additional facilities.