Bangladesh Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said the Prime Minister is not aware of the suspension of mayors of Rajshahi and Sylhet cities and Habiganj municipality as the Local Government Ministry took the decision.

‘It’s the Local Government Ministry’s jurisdiction to suspend mayors. As the ministry has taken the decision, they can say better what the reason and logic behind it. But, so far I know the Prime Minister doesn’t know about such a major policy decision,’ he said.

Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating the 8.5-km Matuail-New Town-Konapara RCC road at Demra in Dhaka, reports UNB.

He also claimed that there is no political link behind the decision of the mayors’ suspension.

Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul and Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury were suspended for the second time on Sunday, hours after they took charge through legal battles.

As the apex court delivered verdicts in their favour last month, the BNP-backed mayors went to their respective offices on Sunday morning.

The government suspended RCC mayor Bulbul on May 7, 2015 as well since he had been charged with criminal offences, while Ariful Haque on January 7, 2015 as he had been made accused in the murder case of former Finance Minister SMA Kibria.

Besides, Habiganj municipality mayor GK Gaus was suspended again on Sunday as he had also been charged with the murder of Kibria.