Mayor of Rajshahi suspended

Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul

The government yesterday suspended Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul as he was charged in court with several criminal cases.

The Local Government Division of the LGRD ministry issued a circular on his suspension yesterday afternoon and sent it to the chief executive officer of the RCC.

The circular mentioned that Bulbul was charged in three cases, and as the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court accepted the charge sheets, the ministry temporarily removed Bulbul under section 12(1) of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009.

According to the section, the government can temporarily remove mayors or councillors after a court accepted charge sheets against him/her in criminal cases.

Bulbul was accused in 10 criminal cases, including the murder of police constable Siddhartha Sarker. Three of the cases were filed for allegedly giving orders to throw petrol bombs at passenger buses during the BNP-led alliance's blockades.

M Azar Ali, CEO of RCC, yesterday confirmed The Daily Star that he got the ministry order signed by Local Government Division Senior Assistant Secretary Jashim Uddin Haider.

The circular asked the CEO to execute the order within three working days.

Sources in the LGRD ministry said the ministry suspended the mayor following a report submitted by the Special Branch of police in the last week of April. The report mentioned that charge sheets against Bulbul were accepted by court, the sources added.

Earlier on March 1, the Police Headquarters forwarded a letter of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) to the home ministry requesting it to inform the Local Government Division to suspend Bulbul for his alleged involvement in crimes/criminal cases.

Bulbul, Rajshahi city unit Jubo Dal convener, was elected mayor in June 2013. He is currently on the run.