PM Hasina is ‘not aware’ of BNP mayors’ suspension, Obaidul Quader says

Three mayors politically belong to the BNP have been suspended on a single day, but Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is not aware of the move.

Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque, Rajshahi City Mayor Mohammad Mossadeq Hossain Bulbul and Habiganj municipality Mayor GK Gaus were suspended on Sunday.

Ariful and Bulbul returned to office earlier in the day while Gaus 10 days ago with court stay order on the previous suspension.

Sunday’s orders cited them being named in chargesheets of separate criminal cases as the reason for the suspension.

Ruling party General Secretary Quader faced reporters’ queries on the matter when he went to inaugurate a street at Demra in Dhaka.

“Suspending a mayor is related to the local government ministry. The local government ministry must have taken the decision,” he said in reply.

“The local government ministry can say it better why it has done so. But to my knowledge, the prime minister is not aware of it,” he added.

Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain is the local government minister.

Earlier in the day, BNP Standing Committee Member Jamiruddin Sircar alleged the ruling party was using its administrative powers to suspend the mayors only for being leaders of the BNP.