Chittagong mayor-elect Nasir will have to wait till July to assume charge

Chittagong mayor-elect AJM Nasir Uddin will have to wait until the end of July to assume office even as mayors of the two city corporations in Dhaka have already taken charge.

The term of outgoing mayor and councillors had not ended yet, causing the delay in Nasir’s taking charge, a top local government official in Chittagong said.

Their term would end on Jul 25, Local Government Division (LGD) Secretary Abdul Malek said.

The elections to the Dhaka North, South and Chittagong city corporations were held on Apr 28.

The mayors and councillor-elects have already taken oath.

Three city corporations also updated the mayors’ profiles on their websites. All of them were elected with the support of ruling Awami League.

Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon joined office on last Thursday while Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq is scheduled to join office on Sunday.

Chief Executive Officer of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Kazi Shafiul Alam told bdnews24.com that he had sent a letter to the local government ministry over the matter.

“Steps will be taken as per the directives of the Local Government Division,” he said.

Outgoing mayor of Chittagong M Manjur Alam and the councillors joined office on Jul 26, 2010.

As Manjur resigned to contest the election, a panel mayor is officiating in his place.

CEO Shafiul said they were waiting for the new mayor and councillors.

“The city corporation has finished all preparation,” he said.

After the elections to the city corporations in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal and Sylhet, BNP-backed mayors had wanted to join office immediately after taking oath, but they had to wait until the terms of the outgoing mayors ended.