Suspension order of ex-GCC Mayor Zahangir not issued in accordance with law: HC 

The High Court has observed that the suspension order of Mohammad Zahangir Alam from the post of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) Mayor had not been issued in accordance with the law settled by the latest judgment pronounced by the High Court division in a similar matter. 

In the observation, the HC further said it will give its finding in respect of all the legal issues involve in the writ petition filed by Zahangir Alam in its detailed judgment.

However, since the writ petitioner submitted his nomination paper for contesting the election (last) we may not hold that he is in the office, also opined the HC. 

Giving the above observation, the HC bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Md Bashir Ullah on Sunday disposed of a writ petition filed by former Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Zahangir Alam challenging the legality of his suspension from the post. 

Lawyers MK Rahman, Belayet Hossain and Moshiur Rahman Sobuj appeared in the court hearing on behalf of Zahangir, while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Deputy Attorney General Nawroz Md Russel Chowdhury represented the state. 

Barrister Belayet Hossain said that the detailed HC observations will be known when it will release the full text of the verdict in the case. 

On different allegations, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) on November 25 in 2021 suspended Zahangir Alam from the post of the Gazipur City Corporation Mayor. Challenging the decision he filed a writ petition. 

On August 23 last year, after hearing the writ petition the High Court issued a rule upon the concerned bodies of the government to explain as to why the decision on suspending Zahangir Alam from the post of GCC Mayor should not be declared illegal. 

After hearing the rule the High Court bench set the date for announcing the verdict. 

It was alleged that speaking at a programme in late September 2021 Zahangir made some ‘controversial’ comments on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the number of Liberation War martyrs. Its video footage went viral on social media. 

Zahangir was expelled from the party in the meeting of the central executive committee of Awami League on November 19 in 2021. An allegation of violating party discipline was brought against him. He was the General Secretary of Gazipur City unit Awami League. 

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