Debate over the tenure of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Shahadat Hossain continues on social media, even as he maintains engagement in national-level development planning.
On Sunday, Shahadat attended a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), where a Tk 3.09 billion project was approved to build housing for CCC sanitation workers.
The approval comes amid ongoing questions about the timeline of his tenure, but also reflects his continued participation in central government planning processes.
The 2021 CCC election initially declared Awami League candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury as mayor, a result later challenged in court by BNP candidate Shahadat Hossain over alleged irregularities. Chowdhury remained in office while the case was pending.
Following political changes on 5 August 2024, and Rezaul’s departure from the country, a court ruling declared Shahadat the rightful mayor, stating that his five-year term would begin from the date of oath-taking. The interpretation has since fuelled debate over the tenure timeline.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, Shahadat rejected questions over his legitimacy, citing the court verdict. “The court has affirmed that my five-year tenure is valid from the date of oath. I am performing my duties accordingly,” he said.
Legal observers note that the ruling effectively sets the tenure period from the date of assumption of office, although differing interpretations continue to circulate in political and online discourse.
Officials and stakeholders say Shahadat’s participation in Ecnec meetings is significant, as the body is the country’s highest forum for approving development projects. His involvement, they say, reflects ongoing administrative engagement with Chattogram City Corporation.
Since the formation of the BNP-led government, administrators have been appointed in most other city corporations, while CCC remains an exception where an elected mayor continues to function and participate in national-level forums.
Civil society figures in Chattogram have dismissed the debate as politically driven. Manjurul Kibria, vice-chancellor of BGC Trust University Bangladesh, said the issue had already been settled by the court and that Shahadat’s tenure was legally valid.
Professor Nasrul Qadir, vice-chancellor of Premier University, also said there had been no legal irregularity in his tenure and pointed to visible improvements in city services since he assumed office.
Some social media posts have claimed that the tenure of the current CCC council ended more than two months ago and that Shahadat Hossain has continued to hold office beyond the expiry period, raising questions over legal and administrative clarity. These claims have added to the ongoing political discussion surrounding his position.
