The government has suspended Nurunnabi Pramanik Saju, the Jamaat-backed mayor of Shundarganj municipality in Gaibandha, after allegations of financial irregularities found to be true in preliminary investigation.
Jamaat-e-Islami activist Saju is a charge-sheeted accused in a case filed with the local police station for killing four police constables during the widespread violence perpetrated by the Jamaat-Shibir men in Bamandanga last year. He is now in jail.
To protest against the death sentence of Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee, the agitators also vandalised and torched government property, and attacked pro-Awami League men and the Hindus and their establishments on February 28.
The suspension came into effect in an order issued by LGRD Deputy Secretary Khalilur Rahman on Tuesday. Abu Rafa Mohammad Arif, the UNO of Shundarganj, confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“Saju is accused of disbursing funds and signing documents of different projects without holding any meeting since November 21 last year,” Deputy Director Md Mokhlesur Rahman of the district’s Local Government Division said.
Even though no project was taken and tenders not floated, the mayor had kept Tk51 lakh – allotted for the municipality – deposited in its account illegally.
Recently, an investigation was launched upon allegations lodged by 10 councillors of the municipality. The suspension order came after the allegations were proved and President Abdul Hamid gave his nod.
Panel Mayor Lutfar Rahman has been given the charge of the mayor.
Saju is facing 11 cases filed over the February 28 incidents. He had been absconding after being implicated in the cases to avert arrest, but continued activities as a mayor.
Recently, he surrendered before a Gaibandha court and sought bail. But the court rejected the plea and sent him to jail. Police filed charge sheet in the police murder case on September 16.