177 temporary employees sacked

A total of 177 Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) employees appointed on a temporary basis have been terminated after a probe committee found their appointment illegal.

Akter Hossain, an executive officer of RCC, who led the probe committee, said they were appointed to different posts without any approval from the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives.

RCC Mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa approved the termination order on Thursday four days after the five-member body formed on March 4 had submitted its findings, said Akter.

Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu, late mayor of RCC, made the recruitment during his term, said the incumbent mayor.

Mostafa said he held up the process of payment of their salaries soon after he had taken charge on February 19 this year. The 177 employees have been unpaid for the last three months, he said, adding that their due salaries will be paid within a day or two.

Besides, a fresh recruitment to the posts will be made as early as possible, said the mayor.  The RCC authorities wrote a letter to the ministry on May 3 seeking its permission in this regard, he added.

Jhantu served as the first mayor of RCC for five years since 2012. He also contested the mayoral election held on December 21 last year with AL nomination, but lost to Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, a Jatiya Party candidate. Jhantu died at a Dhaka hospital on February 25.