The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) on Thursday suspended Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Mohammad Zahangir Alam.
Mayor Mohammad Zahangir Alam was suspended on charges of various allegations, including illegal land grabbing, not compensating people after taking over land for development, and working against public interests.
Mayor Zahangir Alam lost his mayoral post six days after the expulsion from Awami League.
LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam confirmed the matter to reporters at a briefing held at the secretariat Thursday afternoon.
"We receive several allegations against him (Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Mohammad Zahangir Alam). We took the allegations into cognizance for scrutiny. If any allegation against a mayor is taken into cognizance for investigation, there is a rule on suspending him," the minister said.
"For this, the mayor of Gazipur City Corporation has been suspended," he said.
The LGRD Minister said, “The allegations include illegal land grabbing, not compensating people after taking over land for development and working against public interests.”
On the other hand, a three-member mayoral panel has been formed for running the ongoing activities of the city corporation as per rules, said LGRD Minister.
The Minister said a three-member probe committee, led by additional secretary of the LGRD Ministry Mustaqim Billah Farooqui, has been formed. The committee is expected to submit its report soon.
On November 19, Zahangir was expelled from Awami League for his controversial comments on Bangabandhu and the Liberation War martyrs.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party's Central Working Committee with AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League on Thursday named Md Ataullah Mandal as the acting general secretary of the party's Gazipur metropolitan unit replacing disgraced Zahangir Alam who has recently been expelled from the party, according to a press release on Thursday.
Ataullah was chosen by the Awami League's Central Executive Committee, said the release signed by the party’s Office Secretary Biplob Barua.
The post fell vacant on November 19 after Awami League expelled Zahangir, also the mayor of Gazipur, for life over allegations of making derogatory comments on Bangabandhu and martyred freedom fighters, He also lost primary membership of the party.
Awami League has decided to take legal action against Jahangir.
Jahangir Alam, however, said he will submit an application requesting the Prime Minister to review the decision.
On October 3, AL issued a show-cause notice to Jahangir for his recently uploaded video that went viral with controversial comments on Bangabandhu, regarding the number of people martyred during the Liberation War and other local leaders.
He was asked to reply to the notice within 15 days.
The notice said Jahangir’s viral comments damaged the image and popularity of the political organization.
It is equal to going against the interest of the organization and breaking its disciplines which is a punishable offense, according to the party’s constitution, the notice said.
Jahangir claimed that conspirators and anti-election groups have spread the 'technologically manipulated video' as a pernicious campaign against him.
