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Published : 28 Apr 2026, 02:31 AM
Key Takeaways
• Legal experts say the CCC mayoral term ended in February 2026 based on the 2021 first meeting
• Sahadat Hossain claims his tenure extends until 2029 and is linked to oath-taking
• Electoral tribunal ruling reinstated Sahadat in 2024, but experts say it does not extend tenure
• Government has appointed administrators in 11 city corporations as terms expire
• The EC and government are preparing for local polls, but no final election schedule has been announced.
Chattogram Mayor Sahadat Hossain’s tenure has triggered renewed debate over the legal duration of a city corporation head’s term, with jurists and election experts saying his stint ended in February this year, while the BNP leader insists it will run until 2029.
The government has already appointed administrators to 11 city corporations across the country, leaving only Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) under an elected mayor following Sahadat’s court victory in an electoral tribunal case.
However, according to the date of the last election, the city corporation’s term has already expired two months ago, raising questions over his continuation in office.
The issue resurfaced during an interaction with journalists at the Nagar Bhaban on Monday evening, where Sahadat claimed his mayoral term runs until 2029. He advised anyone with objections to approach the High Court.
Without naming any party or individual, he said: “Why some people have suddenly become so vocal on this issue, I do not understand.
“It is the responsibility of the local government ministry. City corporations operate under them.”
He added, “My term is five years from the day I took oath. I informed the ministry accordingly. After that, the ministry did not raise any objection.”
However, election experts and legal practitioners argue that since the first meeting of the Chattogram City Corporation was held in February 2021, its five-year term ended in February this year.
They say there is no legal basis for extending the tenure beyond that period.
The Legal Standpoint
Former Election Commission senior secretary and Election System Reform Commission member Jasmine Tuli said, “The tenure is tied to the elected term. The five-year period of the 2021 election is what matters.”
Explaining further, she said: “Even if someone assumes office later through a court order, the tenure remains linked to the original election cycle. No additional time is granted.”
She added that court verdicts only determine eligibility for a specific electoral term and do not extend institutional tenure beyond its expiry.
According to her, once the corporation’s five-year cycle ends, the mayoral, councillor or chairperson posts also expire.
Tuli said the decision on whether to appoint administrators or hold elections after term expiry lies with the government.
The Election Commission (EC) conducts polls once it is formally informed.
Elections may be held before the end of a term, but whether a mayor continues after expiry or is replaced by an administrator depends on government decisions, she added.
The government has said it is preparing for local government elections, while the Election Commission has stated that no timeline has yet been finalised.
Chattogram’s legal backdrop includes the 2021 city election, where BNP candidate Sahadat secured 52,489 votes, while Awami League candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury won with 369,248 votes and took oath as mayor on Feb 11, 2021.
The first council meeting was held on Feb 23, 2021. Sahadat later filed an electoral tribunal case on Feb 24, alleging irregularities.
Following a change in government, a tribunal court on Oct 1, 2024 declared Sahadat the elected mayor, and he was sworn in on Nov 3, 2024.
Legal experts say that even in such cases, the tenure remains tied to the original electoral term, not the date of judicial reinstatement.
Tuli also noted that all city corporations where terms have expired have already seen administrator appointments, and similar decisions depend on the ministry’s next steps.
Administrative Rule, Tenure and Election Timing
The Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009 states in Section 6 that the tenure of a city corporation shall be five years from the date of its first meeting.
During the 2011 amendment of the law, the provision allowing continuation of duties after expiry of tenure until the first meeting of a reconstituted city corporation was repealed.
Subsequent amendments in 2011, 2012 and 2024 introduced provisions on three key areas: appointment of administrators in special circumstances, government powers in forming committees and appointing administrators in extraordinary situations, and election timing.
The law also provides that elections should be arranged within 180 days before the expiry of tenure, and within 180 days following the dissolution of a corporation.
After coming to power, the BNP government appointed administrators in six city corporations on Feb 23, followed by 14 more on Mar 14.
Local government division notifications said these administrators would remain in office until the corporation is reconstituted or until further orders.
An ordinance incorporating amendments introduced by the interim government was later passed as a Bill on Apr 9.
What Mayor Sahadat Claims
Sahadat, a physician by profession and a veteran BNP politician, has maintained a dual stance concerning his tenure and future.
While he insists his term is far from over, he has also expressed readiness to contest a fresh mandate.
Speaking to bdnews24.com on Apr 15, he confirmed his interest in seeking re-election.
"Yes, if the party nominates me, I will contest. It is a democratic right; someone else from the party might seek the nomination as well," he said.
When questioned about the timing of the next election, Sahadat placed the responsibility on the government.
"If the government decides to hold an election today, I must resign. I am absolutely ready to do so if they make that call, or if the court orders it."
He also said that during the previous interim government, the local government ministry secretary had inquired about his tenure.
“At that time, through my lawyer, I informed the ministry in writing that my tenure is five years from the day I took oath. After that, the ministry did not respond further,” he said.
On Feb 16, he told bdnews24.com: “My tenure is until Feb 23. But under Section 6 of the Local Government Act, it is stated how long a mayor serves. According to that, the current mayor continues until the next election.”
He added that he had submitted a legal explanation to the local government secretary through a Supreme Court lawyer.
Attempts were made to contact senior officials of the Local Government Division, but they declined to comment.
What Legal Experts Say
Retired senior district and sessions judge Shahjahan Saju said Shahadat’s tenure had already ended in February based on the election tribunal verdict.
“Since the mayoral position came through a tribunal verdict, his tenure ended in February. If an administrator is appointed, they can serve for the period assigned. His five-year tenure is over,” said the former president of the Bangladesh Law Association.
Saju, who also served as a joint secretary in the EC’s legal wing, added: “Even if a case drags on, and only five days remain out of five years, one may assume office for those remaining days. There is no scope for dispute here. The law clearly states the tenure is five years.”
EC, Government Prepare for Fresh Local Body Polls
The EC and the government are gearing up to hold elections for city corporations as their tenures expire, according to officials.
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said the EC Secretariat is currently gathering data on local government institutions that have become eligible for elections.
While Masud declined to comment specifically on the ongoing dispute over Sahadat’s tenure, he confirmed that the commission is moving forward with its preparations.
"We will take appropriate measures for the elections at the right time. The EC Secretariat will present the necessary details at the commission meeting, where the election schedule will be determined," he said.
The commissioner added that the recently passed amendments to the Local Government Act would guide the process.
He noted that after the national election on Feb 12, a vote for reserved women’s seats is scheduled for May 12.
Preparations for local government elections will be taken up after that.
Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told parliament that the government is actively considering local government elections.
“After necessary preparations, the electoral process for local government institutions will be started quickly,” he said in response to a question in parliament on Monday.
