The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) yesterday issued separate show-cause notices to its 21 ward councillors for being absent in more than three consecutive board meetings without showing valid reason. Of the 21 councillors, 19 are from general wards and two women councillors are from reserved wards. A press release from the DSCC’s public relations department said that a notice signed by DSCC secretary Mostafa Kamal Majumder was issued to councillors on October 23, ordering them to explain the reasons for their absence in more than three general board meetings. The councillors have been asked to respond to the letter within seven working days. The general ward councillors to whom show-cause notices have been issued are Maksud Hossain Mohsin (3), Golam Hossain (4), Ashrafuzzaman (5), Abdul Basit Khan (7), Golam Ashraf Talukder (12), Mostafa Zaman (13), Mohammad Salim (14), Jasim Uddin Ahmed (18), Torikul Islam Sajib (22), Anwar Parvez Badal (28), Md Hasan (30), Rafiqul Islam Rassel (31), Billah Shah (32), Awal Hossain (33), Maynul Haque Manzu (39), Moqbul Islam Khan Tipu (40), Sarwar Hasan (41), Arif Hossain (43) and Nasim Miah (52).
The women councillors from the reserved seats are Rashida Parvin (13) and Shiuli Hossain (19).
The law entitles the government to remove city corporation ward councillors if they skip three meetings consecutively without valid reason.
Earlier on last Wednesday, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) served show-cause notices to 14 of its councillors, including four women councillors, for missing more than three board meetings consecutively. The DNCC councillors were Begum Meherunnesa Haque, Khaleda Bahar Beauty, Aleya Sarwar Daisy, Elora Parvin, Kazi Jahirul Islam Manik, Abdur Rauf, Razzab Hossain, Md Nasir, Sheikh Muzibur Rahman, Shamim Hasan, Nurul Islam Ratan, Shafiquel Islam, Taimur Reza, and Motaleb Miah.
Several of the Dhaka ward councillors facing allegations of corruption have reportedly gone into hiding after the government launched a crackdown in September on illegal gambling, extortion, contract-grabbing, and other wrongdoings, especially by leaders of the ruling Awami League and its affiliates.
Recent media reports said the police were monitoring the activities of some councillors. The reports also say that the government had started investigating local complaints against these councillors regarding their alleged involvement in illegal activities. Special arrangements had been made so that none of them could suddenly leave the country.
In a major development, the Local Government Division removed AKM Mominul Haque Sayeed, the DSCC councillor of ward no. 9, from his post for being absent from meetings of the city corporation and going abroad without permission from the ministry. However, sources revealed that the Arambagh Krira Sangha chief fled to Singapore after his involvement in the illegal casino business was revealed. He has not returned to the country fearing arrest, the sources said.
In another development, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the DNCC councillor of ward no. 32, Habibur Rahman Mizan, and the DNCC councillor of Ward No. 33, Tarequzzaman Rajib, for their involvement in money laundering, extortion, land grabbing, and casino business.
Sources at the two city corporations said most of the councillors who received show-cause notices were alleged to have been involved in casino-related activities, extortion, and other misdeeds. Like Sayeed, some other councillors would be removed because of their absence from the meetings, even though other allegations have been levelled against them, they added.
Last Saturday, DNCC mayor Atiqul Islam had announced that the city corporation would not take responsibility for the wrongdoings of any councillor. He made the remarks at an event marking Community Policing Day on the Government Titumir College premises.
The mayor revealed that the misconduct of a few councillors had left him “disappointed”. “I don’t take or pay any extortion money. The law enforcement will take action against anyone who traffics drugs and engages in extortion or land-grabbing. DNCC has no say in it. Each individual is accountable for their own actions,” he said.