The court also stayed realisation of new taxes for six months from June 25. It also called upon the respondents to show cause within four weeks why the re-valuation list of lands and buildings, made in violation of rules 23, 24, 25 and 40 of the Municipal Committee (Taxation) Rules 1960, and imposition of 'discriminatory and exorbitant' municipal tax should not be declared to have been made without lawful authority and unconstitutional.

The municipal authorities' action violated the petitioner's fundamental rights, guaranteed by Article 27, 31 and42 of the Constitution, the HC order said. The rule nisi followed a petition by Anwar Hossain, representative of the Committee for Prevention of Imposition of Excessive Municipal Tax, and two residents --- Anwar Ali and Khadija Rahman.

Meanwhile, the committee held a press conference yesterday on the office premises of Samo Samaj

Ganatantri Party and urged the town dwellers to refrain from paying taxes as per the new assessment.

Mohammed Afzal, convener of the committee, alleged that the Rangpur municipal authorities unlawfully enhancedmunicipal tax on lands and holdings in the municipal area.

He also claimed that the 'faulty and discriminatory' tax assessment would be a huge burden on residents.

“It is about 30 to 50 per cent higher than the previous rate," the former Chairman of Rangpur

Municipality and President of Samo Samaj Ganatantri Party claimed.

When contacted, Rangpur Municipality chairman Abdur Rouf Manik said, he is yet to get the HC order and refused to comment on it. He however said the municipal authorities did not do anything unlawful.