Dhaka: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a High Court order that stayed for six months the government’s order suspending BNP-backed Gazipur City Corporation Mayor MA Mannan.

A three-member bench of the SC’s Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice SK Sinha, heard a prayer filed by the state against the High Court order and issued no order, letting the stay on the mayor’s suspension remain in place, reported UNB.

Khandaker Mahbub Hossain who stood for Mannan said with the apex court giving no order in this regard, the HC’s stay order was upheld.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state.

Earlier on 11 April, the HC stayed for six months the government’s order suspending Mayor MA Mannan.

An HC bench, comprising Justice Quamrul Islam Siddique and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil, passed the order following a petition.

The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the suspension order against MA Mannan should not be declared illegal and unlawful.

Six people, including the secretary for Local Government and Rural Development Ministry and Gazipur deputy commissioner, were made respondents to the rule.

On 19 August 2015, the government suspended Gazipur City Corporation Mayor MA Mannan as he had been charged with criminal offences.

Later, MA Mannan filed a writ petition challenging the government order on 31 March, 2016.