Zahangir suspended from mayoral post
Councillor Kiran to be acting mayor of Gazipur
The LGRD ministry has temporarily suspended Zahangir Alam from the post of Gazipur City Corporation mayor days after he lost membership of the Awami League over allegations of making derogatory comments about Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and martyred freedom fighters.
The ministry issued a gazette notification, announcing his suspension and ordered Zahangir to hand over the charges to the senior-most member of the three-member panel mayor within three days of receiving the order.
As such, Asadur Rahman Kiran, councillor of Ward 43 of Gazipur City Corporation, is going to get the responsibility as the acting mayor. The other members of the panel were Ward 52 Councillor Abdul Alim Molla and Ward 10 (reserved) councillor Ayesha Akhter.
On Thursday, LGRD Minister Tajul Islam said, "There are several allegations including land grabbing, abusing of power and embezzlement against Zahangir Alam."
A probe body has been formed to investigate different allegations including land grabbing and abuse of power against him.
"The allegations are being investigated. We think he needs to be suspended for a fair investigation," said the minister, adding, "Local Government Division Additional Secretary Mustakim Billah Faruqui will lead the probe body."
The gazette notification has mentioned the reasons for Zahangir's dismissal which include submitting fraudulent tenders, irregularities in RFQ tenders, appointing irrational number of people in various posts, embezzlement of money through fake bills and vouchers on the occasion of Ijtema and showing the same work in various projects, etc.
He can be removed from his post of mayor because of these allegations, according to city corporation laws.
City Corporation data say BNP's Professor MA Mannan was elected the first mayor of Gazipur in 2013. Asadur Rahman Kiran served as the panel mayor in his absence for more than 27 months during that term. Besides, in the absence of the mayor of Tongi municipality, he served as the panel mayor 20 times.
Kiran was born in the Pagar Area in Tongi. He is the incumbent vice president of the party's Gazipur Metropolis.
