New Age | Government suspends Bhawaniganj mayor for corruption

The government suspended the mayor of Bhawaniganj municipality in Rajshahi, Abdul Malek, for his involvement in embezzlement of government funds and various corruption cases.

The local government authority published an official notice on its official website on Thursday confirming the suspension, effective Wednesday.

According to the official statement, Abdul Malek, who is also the chairman of the Bhawaniganj Municipal Awami League, cashed the payment cheque without completing work on three out of four packages under major urban infrastructure development projects.

He also embezzled 5.86 lakh taka through tenders without carrying out any work in 2022. Moreover, the mayor undertook the construction of the town hall himself without tendering and signed the bill himself.

Apart from that, the government also concluded during its investigation that the allegations against Abdul Malek are true: embezzlement of collected municipal taxes, irregularities in the issuance of business licenses, negligence in the use of municipal trucks, rollers and other vehicles, and illegal collection of money from vehicles on municipal roads.

In another communication on the same day, the government also delegated to the Mayor 1 body the authority to manage the administrative and financial affairs of the municipality.