DHAKA: The government is planning to appoint political administrators in two bifurcated city corporations of Dhaka.
But in the Local Government Law (City Corporation), there is no scope to appoint political persons except the first class government officers in the post.
Yet the government is thinking over the matter to implement its plan after thorough examination of the related law, according to a source.
The names of the potential candidates for the two coveted posts are--former Mayor of DCC M Hanif’s son Sayeed Khokon and M Rahmuttuah.
According to the source, as no visible development is seen in the DCC despite appointing government officers, the government is thinking to change the strategy to activate the DCCs through political persons.
So long the administrators who were appointed were high officials in the rank of additional secretaries, but they did not stay there more than six months.
During their tenure they could not take any long term projects, rather brought untold sufferings for the city dwellers.
From the view of political point, the government is thinking that these political administrators will try to build their image so that they can come back here as elected mayors.
From this consideration M Sayeed Khokon and M Rahmutualh MP are in the good book of the highest authority who might be appointed administrators of DCC South and North respectively.
When contacted the State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mashiur Rahman Ranga told banglanews that he has heard about the plan but he personally does not know anything in this regard.
Wishing anonymity, an AL leader told Banglanews that to minimize the sufferings of the city dwellers; the government is going to appoint political administrators in the bifurcated DCCs.
However the final decision is yet to come after examining the related laws.
Earlier, political administrators were appointed during BNP and Jatiyo party regimes. The matter was also discussed in the highest level of the government.
On May 31, 2012, the government appointed DG of Bureau of Statistics Shahjahan Mollah and additional secretary Zillar Rahman of Housing and works ministry as the administrators of North and South respectively. But at present none of them is there.
On November 23, 2011, local Government (amendment) Bill was passed which led to the bifurcation of the DCC.
On December 3 two additional secretaries of the government were appointed administrators.
In that bill it was proposed in article 25(1) that at the end of the tenure administrators would be appointed for 180 days in all new city corporations while in the old or bifurcated corporation the tenure would be for 90 days.
Next the powers will be handed over to the elected mayors. But though two years have elapsed the ruling Awami League is not thinking about the matter.
BDST: 1525 HRS, APR 27, 2014
