Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday upheld a High Court order that stayed a government order suspending Gazipur City Corporation mayor MA Mannan for three months.

A three-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice SK Sinha passed the order after rejecting government’s appeal against the stay.

Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan stood for the mayor while Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukdar argued for the state.

Barrister Khokan said now there is no bar for Mannan in performing his duty as mayor.

Earlier on 9 July, the High Court stayed the suspension order following a writ filed by Mannan challenging his suspension for the third time.

On July 6, the government suspended Mannan after the mayor took his office following a court order.

Mannan took over the charge of the city mayor on June 18 last, 28 months after suspension following an order of the Supreme Court.

The GCC mayor has so far been suspended thrice, with the first suspension being on August 19, 2015 and then on April 18 last year.