Mayors of city corporations across the country have been removed and administrators have been appointed to handle responsibilities in their stead.
Local Government Division (LGD) officials told The Business Post that the mayors were removed as per Section 13(Ka) of the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024.
Two notifications were also issued in this regard by the division on Monday.
The removed mayors are Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas, Dhaka North Mayor Atiqul Islam, Chattogram City Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Khulna City Mayor Talukdar Abdul Khalek, Rajshahi City Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Barisal City Mayor Abul Khair Abdullah, Rangpur City Mayor Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, Sylhet City Mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, Mymensingh City Mayor Ikramul Haque Titu, Gazipur City Mayor Zayeda Khatun, Narayanganj City Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy, Cumilla City Mayor Tahsin Bahar.
The 12 administrators were appointed in the vacated positions in accordance with Section 25(Ka) of the sub clause (1) of the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024, said a notification.
According to the notification, appointed administrators will perform their duties following Section 25(Ka) of the sub clause (3) of the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Ordinance 2024.
It said LGD Additional Secretary Dr Moh Sher Ali was appointed as administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation, while LGD Additional Secretary (director general) Md Mahmudul Hasan was appointed as administrator of Dhaka North.
The Chattogram divisional commissioner will perform his duty as administrator of Chattogram City, Khulna divisional commissioner as Khulna City administrator, Rajshahi divisional commissioner as Rajshahi City administrator, Sylhet divisional commissioner as Sylhet City administrator, Barishal divisional commissioner as Barisal City administrator, LGD Additional Secretary AHM Kamruzzaman was made Narayanganj City administrator, director general (additional secretary) of Bangladesh Rural Development Academy in Cumilla was appointed as Cumilla City administrator, Rangpur divisional commissioner as Rangpur City administrator, Dhaka divisional commissioner as Gazipur City administrator and Mymensingh divisional commissioner will perform duty as Mymensingh City administrator.
"The notification issued in public interest will come into immediate effect," read both notifications, adding these administrators will manage the city corporations until further orders are issued, as specified under Section 25(ka), Subsection (1) of the ordinance.
Meanwhile, the LGD on Monday also removed 876 public representatives, including 60 Zila Parishad council chairmen, 493 upazila Parishad chairman and 323 municipality mayors.
The chairmanship of the Naogaon Zila Parishad has been declared vacant due to death, and administrators have been appointed for the 61 Zila Parishad.
Furthermore, 495 upazila nirbahi officers have been appointed as upazila parishad administrators, and seven municipal administrators have been removed.
The interim government’s Advisory Council approved the amendments to several local government ordinances on Friday, with the president issuing the related ordinance on Saturday.
These amendments grant the government authority to remove public representatives and appoint administrators in special situations to address public interest concerns.
