Rajshahi: Councillor Nizam-ul Azim has been made acting mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation flouting legal barriers to pick up one of the three panel mayors in absence of the mayor.

A letter of the local government ministry in this regard reached the RCC on Monday, said RCC public relations officer Amirul Karim.

He said to UNB: Azim, councillor from ward 21 of the city, has been made acting mayor following the suspension of the mayor.

Earlier on 7 May, the ministry suspended absconding RCC mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, who is accused in several cases of arson and vandalism.

But on 28 May High Court stayed the suspension order, said his advocate Amirul Karim Helal.  

RCC Panel Mayor 3 Nurunnahar Begum sent a letter on 24 May to the local government secretary complaining of police harassment of her family after she had claimed the charge of RCC mayor. RCC Panel Mayor 1 Anwarul Amin is now in jail and Panel Mayor 2 Nuruzzaman Tito is now absconding and accused of criminal offence.

Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, Anwarul Amin, Nuruzzaman Tito and Nurunnahar Begum are pro-BNP leaders.