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Dhaka, June 18, 2025: Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives (LGRD), stated that the tenure of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor and councilors has expired, leaving no legal provision for administering oaths to new officials. He made these remarks on Wednesday in response to a query from journalists at the LGRD Ministry.
Asif explained that the city corporation’s term has concluded, and no new directives have been issued by the Election Commission (EC) regarding the matter. “We were awaiting the EC’s decision based on earlier observations, but no new decision has been communicated,” he said. He highlighted confusion surrounding an outdated gazette, which the EC claimed was not published but was later referenced after its validity had lapsed. “The gazette became ineffective 20 days ago, yet it was considered a decision, which is highly confusing,” he added.
Referring to the legal complexities, Asif noted that the Appellate Division’s observations have made decision-making challenging. “Even if the gazette were valid, it became ineffective 20 days prior, and the city corporation’s term has also ended,” he said. He clarified that while he is not a legal expert, the issue was thoroughly explained by the Law Advisor, a professor and legal specialist.
Asif expressed concern over the resulting deadlock in DSCC operations, stating that civic services have been disrupted compared to the previous month. “The situation resembles an occupation, with corporation offices effectively taken over, severely hampering our ability to provide services,” he remarked.
Commenting on the government’s relationship with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Asif claimed there is no tension. “Meetings between BNP’s chief advisor and Tarique Rahman have normalized relations significantly. All parties must act responsibly to maintain this cordial environment,” he urged.
AI/MR
