Bossless for 11 days
The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is running without its top executive for the last 11 days as its newly appointed administrator is “reluctant” to take over the helm.
Consequently, the day-to-day activities of the corporation are being hampered. Many decisions on financial, administrative and policy matters have been awaiting the administrator's approval, officials said.
The preparation of the DNCC's budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year has also stalled. Usually, city corporations announce their budgets in June-July.
The top posts of the north and south city corporations fell vacant on May 30 on the expiry of the six-month tenure of office.
On June 4, Additional Secretary Nozmul Islam of the public administration ministry took office as the administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). But Akhter Hossain Bhuiyan, member (estate) of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), did not take up his post at the DNCC.
The two were given the appointments the previous day.
LGRD ministry sources said the posts of the administrator are filled with additional secretary-level officials. But of late, they have become reluctant to take up the role as the incumbent government's tenure has reached its fag end.
Officials fear that they might be labelled politically and thus their career might suffer.
They have also been unwilling to take the responsibility as there are chances that the city polls might be held soon, said LGRD ministry sources.
The elections have been delayed for several reasons.
Since the bifurcation of the erstwhile Dhaka city corporation in November 2011, this is the fourth term for the administrators to head the organisations.
Appointed temporarily for six months, the administrators cannot prepare any long-term plan for the city dwellers.
Contacted, Akhter Hossain Bhuiyan said, "I am yet to get clearance from the Rajuk authorities. As a result, I could not assume the post at the DNCC."
Officials in public administration ministry said if Akhter has any rational ground for not taking up the role at the DNCC, the ministry would find someone else. Otherwise, he will have to join the city corporation.
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