Twenty-eight days after Awami League nominated Seriabat Abul Khair Abdullah Khokon assumed the position of Mayor of Barisal City Corporation, 134 employees appointed temporarily during the tenure of the past mayor, city Awami League Secretary Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, have been terminated.
Barisal City Corporation Chief Executive Officer (acting) Masuma Akhter cancelled their appointments on Thursday evening.
She also confirmed that the appointments of 51 more employees would be cancelled soon.
According to BCC sources, around 6pm on Thursday, 134 employees working in various branches of BCC, including administration, hat-bazar, cleaning, warehouse, electricity, birth registration, engineering, city security, tax collection, property, trade, and public relations, were terminated. The authority has also posted a notice on the BCC board regarding this matter.
Another 51 employees have been notified via mobile phone not to come to work.
According to local sources, these employees were appointed a few months ago, before the departure of the ex-mayor Sadiq Abdullah from BCC. However, the employees whose appointments were cancelled complained that they were terminated without receiving any payment, even though they had worked for two months.
BCC security worker Shahidul Islam said: "I worked for two months. On Thursday evening, when I went to Nagar Bhaban, the administrative officer told me not to come. I have not been paid even for a month."
Tajammul Islam, an office assistant in the administrative branch, said: "I joined the service on November 1 and worked until 6 pm on Thursday. Then, it was informed that our appointment was canceled."
In this regard, BCC CEO (acting) Masuma Akhter said they have twice the number of employees than required, and these employees are appointed on a daily wage basis. The condition at the time of appointment was that the authorities could cancel their employment at will. Hence, the appointment of 134 people was cancelled on Thursday evening, and the appointment of the remaining 51 will be cancelled on Sunday.
