Rajshahi city mayor suspended

The government today suspended BNP-backed Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul for his alleged involvement in crimes including murder.  

“The mayor was suspended and I have received a letter from the LGRD ministry around 4:45pm,” M Azhar Ali, chief executive officer at RCC, told our Rajshahi correspondent.

However, the CEO declined to mention any reason behind the move.

Ashok Madhab Roy, additional secretary of the LGRD ministry, told The Daily Star that the ministry sent a letter to the CEO of the RCC in this regard.

Sources in the Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) ministry said it suspended the mayor following a letter submitted by the Special Branch of police.

The LGRD ministry received a letter in the last week of April in which the SB informed that a charge sheet against Bulbul was accepted by court, they added.

Earlier on March 1, the Police Headquarters forwarded a letter of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) to the home ministry requesting it to take necessary measures so that the Local Government Division removes Bulbul for his alleged involvement in crimes.

A source in RMP said Bulbul was accused in five 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 blockades, he added.

Earlier, the government on January 7 temporarily removed BNP-backed Sylhet City Corporation mayor Ariful Huq Chowdhury from his post, as he had been charged with the murder of former finance minister SAMS Kibria.