Dhaka mayors get rank and status of minister

MNA Editorial Desk: Dhaka mayors will now get the rank and status of a minister. Mayors of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have been given full ministerial status.

And the mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation has been given the status of deputy minister. The cabinet division issued a gazette notification yesterday in this regard, said Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam.

“The status of mayors for the other city corporations remains unchanged,” he said

The government took the decision in this regard on Tuesday, said a gazette notification issued by the Cabinet Division. Dhaka North and South mayors Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon will now enjoy the facilities according to their current portfolio and Narayanganj Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy that of a deputy minister.

All the three mayors – Annisul Huq from Dhaka North City Corporation, Sayeed Khokon from Dhaka South City Corporation and Selina Hayat Ivy from Narayanganj City Corporation – have been elected from the ruling Awami League.

Dhaka mayors will now enjoy the rank, status and benefits of a minister while Narayanganj mayor that of a deputy minister, adds the notification.

Until 2009, Dhaka city mayor had the status of a minister and that of the other city corporations were state minister. Sayeed Khokon and Annisul Huq took oath as Dhaka mayors on May 6 last year.

No ministerial status was granted to them after the Awami League-led alliance formed the government. The matter did not pick up pace as BNP-backed candidates had been elected mayors in most of the city corporations.

Dhaka City Corporation was established as the Dacca Municipality on 1 August 1864. The first elected chairman was Ananda Chandra Roy. Prior to that, a Committee for the improvement of Dacca was formed in 1823.

The Act of 1884 added the provision of elected representatives called commissioners. In 1978, it gained status as Dhaka Municipality Corporation and in 1990, it became Dhaka City Corporation. It is divided into 90 wards.

In 1982, two adjoining municipalities, Mirpur and Gulshan, were merged with Dhaka Municipality. In 1983, it was renamed as Dhaka Municipal Corporation. Finally, in 1990, it was renamed as Dhaka City Corporation. Until 1994, mayors were appointed by the Government. The first elected mayor by popular vote took office in 1994.