The LGRD Ministry suspended the mayor on Tuesday because he is the prime accused in a case filed three years ago.
However, Manik claimed that the suspension order was politically motivated. “I have been suspended because I wanted to protect Phulbari.”
He said he would challenge the suspension order at the High Court.
Also Read- Suspended. Reinstated. Suspended again
The suspension order was signed by LGRD Deputy Secretary Abdur Rouf Miah on Monday.
Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner Mir Khairul Alam, who confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune, said the ministry took the decision after charges brought against Manik were accepted by a court.
The ministry has appointed the municipality's first panel mayor, Mamunur Rashid, as the acting mayor.
Manik was made accused, along with 60 other people, in a case filed by Asia Energy's Field Supervisor Saidur Rahman with Phulbari police station on December 14, 2014.
Saidur filed the case after activists protesting Phulbari open-pit coal project attacked Asia Energy CEO Gary Lye when he visited the area on November 29, 2014.
The protesters also vandalised Asia Energy's Phulbari office.
Read More- High Court overrules suspension of Sylhet mayor | HC stays suspension of Rajshahi, Habiganj mayors
On Sunday, Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury and Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul were suspended only a few hours after they returned to their workplaces after two years of suspension.
Both the mayors were elected to office with BNP endorsement in 2013.
Bulbul was previously suspended because he is an accused in several cases over anti-government movements in 2015.
Ariful was suspended because he is an accused in five murder cases, including that of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria.
Habiganj Municipality Mayor GK Gaus, another BNP leader, was also suspended on Sunday because of his alleged involvement in Kibria murder. Gaus had returned to work only 10 days before he got suspended.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
