Panel mayor Taslima takes charge as acting Barishal mayor

Since the formation of the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) in 2002, a woman has taken the charge of the mayor's office for the first time. The only female panel member and elected councillor in the reserved seats of Wards 1, 2 and 3 of BCC, Sharif Taslima Kalam Polly took her office as the acting mayor at the Barisal Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday. According to BCC sources, after the city corporation was formed, there have been three panel members including one female candidate in three parishads. Until now, only male panel members and general ward councillors have fulfilled the duties of the mayor in absence of the mayor. BCC Chief Executive Officer Wahiduzzaman said as the incumbent Barishal mayor, Ahsan Habib, being away on an overseas trip from April 10-17, Taslima will conduct his duties as the acting mayor. Taslima said: "City Mayor Ahsan Habab is away on an official trip to Thailand. As a result, in his absence, I shall be performing the duties as mayor from Tuesday to Monday in the next week." Former mayor Al-Haj Altaf Mahamud Sikdar, Administrative Officer Asma Begum and others were present when Taslima took charge of the office.