Dhaka city mayors removed

The Local Government Division has announced the removal of all city corporation mayors in Bangladesh, including Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam, from their posts following the enactment of the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024, reports UNB.

This move, effective immediately, applies Section 13(ka) of the new ordinance, which permits the removal of mayors from their positions.

The latest notification designates new administrators for the affected city corporations. The appointments 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 Local Government Division

· Cumilla City Corporation: Md. Jasim Uddin, Director General of Bangladesh Rural Development Academy (BRDA) (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 manage the city corporations until further orders are issued, as specified under Section 25(ka), Subsection (1) of the ordinance.

In addition to this change, the Local Government Division has also removed 876 public representatives, including 60 Zilla Parishad council chairmen, 493 Upazila chairman, and 323 municipal mayors, as of August 18.

The chairmanship of the Zilla Parishad of Naogaon has been declared vacant due to death, and administrators have been appointed for the 61 Zilla Parishad. Furthermore, 495 Upazila Nirbahi Officers have been appointed as Upazila Parishad administrators, and 7 municipal administrators have been removed.

The interim government’s advisory council approved the amendments to several local government ordinances on August 16, with the President issuing the related ordinance on August 17. These amendments grant the government authority to remove public representatives and appoint administrators in special situations to address public interest concerns.