Fate of 9 mayors-elect hangs in balance
New laws arm govt with power to suspend them on criminal charges
Courtesy New Age 7/8/08 Khadimul Islam
The fate of nine of the four city and nine municipal mayors-elect
hangs in balance as the military-controlled interim government has
armed itself with power to suspend them as they are facing criminal
or corruption charges.
The Election Commission at the moment has nothing to do about the
elected representatives facing criminal or corruption cases, but the
government may suspend them in accordance with laws, observed an
election commissioner.
Election commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain told New Age on
Wednesday the proposed local government commission might deal with
the elected representatives facing cases.
According to Section 12(1) of the Local Government (City
Corporations) Ordinance 2008, the government in consultation with
the local government commission can suspend any mayors or
councillors against whom charges have been pressed in criminal cases.
Section 31 of the Local Government (Municipality) Ordinance also
has a similar provision for municipal mayors and councillors.
The military-controlled interim government promulgated the
ordinances on May 12 repealing the laws on city corporations and
municipalities.
Nine mayors-elect, including three for the cities, who won
Monday's local government polls, are facing 28 cases, mostly related
on corruption, extortion and criminal charges.
Of the city and municipal mayors-elect, only three municipal and
one city mayors have no case against them.
Sylhet mayor-elect Badaruddin Ahmed Kamran and Manikganj
municipal mayor-elect Ramzan Ali are now behind bars on corruption
charges. They contested polls from inside prison.
Arrested in May 2007, Kamran now faces four charges — kitchen
market scam charges which are eight years old, possession
of `foreign liquor', violation of the Emergency Powers Rules and
possession of illegal wealth, for which charges were pressed against
him on Thursday.
Ramzan Ali is now facing four cases, including three filed by the
Anti-Corruption Commission.
Dupchanchia municipal mayor-elect Md Jahangir Alam, who was
released from jail on August 1, now faces four cases. The government
arrested him on various charges, including corruption, 17 months ago.
Khulna city mayor-elect Talukder Abdul Khaleque and Golapganj
municipal mayor-elect Zakaria Ahmed Paplu face the highest number of
cases, with five cases against each of them.
Barisal city mayor-elect Shawkat Hossain Hiron is facing two
cases.
Sitakunda municipal mayor-elect Shafiul Alam alias Nayek Shafi
faces three cases, including two filed by the Anti-Corruption
Commission. Shariatpur municipal mayor-elect Abdur Rab Munshi faces
one case and Chuadanga municipal mayor-elect Reazul Islam Joarder
faces two cases.
The president, Iajuddin Ahmed, on May 11 promulgated the Local
Government Commission Ordinance and the preparations for the
formation of the commission are in final stages.
The chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, addressing a regional
dialogue in Rajshahi on July 30 said the government would form an
independent local government commission for the sustainability of a
strong local government.
The LGRD and cooperatives adviser, Anwarul Iqbal, told New Age on
June 16 a summery proposing the formation of the local government
commission was sent to the chief adviser for his approval.
In line with the ordinance on the local government commission, a
three-member selection committee has been formed to make
recommendations on the appointment of the chairman and members of
the commission.
The Public Service Commission chairman has been made the
committee chairman and the comptroller and auditor general and the
Local Government Division secretary have been made members.
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