BNP leader Shahadat Hossain, who earlier assumed office as the mayor of the Chattogram City Corporation following a court verdict, has now been appointed as the full-time administrator of the local body. The Local Government Division issued a formal notification regarding his appointment, stating that he will serve as the administrator until further notice. This decision comes amidst questions regarding the expiration of the previously elected council's tenure and the legal validity of his continuation as mayor.
According to the notification signed by Deputy Secretary Jewel Rana, Shahadat Hossain will receive monthly honoraria and other allowances as per the rules while discharging his duties under the relevant provisions of the Local Government (City Corporation) Amendment Act. The order, issued in the public interest, has taken immediate effect.
Previously, discussions arose regarding the tenure of the elected council of the Chattogram City Corporation, which held its inaugural meeting on February 23, 2021. According to official records from the Local Government Division, the five-year term of that council concluded in February of the current year. While Shahadat Hossain previously maintained that court directives permitted him to serve until November 2029, government documents noted that the judiciary did not issue explicit directives regarding the extended tenure.
This administrative transition is expected to resolve ongoing uncertainties surrounding the leadership of the port city's municipal corporation. With his appointment as administrator, the legal ambiguity has been cleared, allowing the local government body to function smoothly without administrative vacuum.
Moving forward, Shahadat Hossain faces significant responsibilities in managing municipal services, improving waste management, ensuring mosquito control, and expediting ongoing urban development projects in Chattogram. Observers believe that his administrative tenure will be crucial for maintaining civic discipline and public service delivery in the port city.
