Dhaka: The High Court on Thursday stayed for six months a government order suspending Gazipur City Corporation Mayor MA Mannan for the second time.

An HC bench Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan came up with the order.

The HC also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned why the suspension order would not be declared illegal.

The Local Government and Rural Development secretary and others concerned have been made respondent to the rule, which is returnable within four weeks.

Mannan's lawyer Masud Rana said now there is no legal bar to taking charge by Mannan as mayor again.

Earlier on August 19, 2015, the government suspended Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Mannan for the first time as he had been charged with criminal offences.

Later, on April 18, 2016, the mayor was suspended for the second time barely a week after the Appellate Division validated his position.