Chattogram City Mayor Shahadat Hossain has come under fresh scrutiny after obstructing a police operation targeting listed criminal Wakil Hossain alias Boga, publicly criticising the officer-in-charge involved and, for allegedly having that officer transferred within hours.
The episode has fuelled allegations that the BNP leader is using his office to shield associates and exert influence over law enforcement, even though the five-year term of the Chattogram City Corporation expired eight months ago.
The controversy began on Tuesday night when officers from the North Division of Chattogram Metropolitan Police and Khulshi Police Station surrounded the City Corporation office after receiving information that Boga was in the area.
Several officers entered Nagar Bhaban, where Shahadat allegedly stopped them and told them to leave.
During the incident, supporters of the mayor harassed journalists, while Shahadat himself later threatened legal action against media workers.
The following day, within two hours of the mayor publicly expressing dissatisfaction with Khulshi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdur Rahim, the officer was transferred.
Strenuously denying that Boga went to the Nagar Bhaban, Shahadat said that Boga’s two brothers went there to complain that the Khulshi OC was harassing them through unnecessary cases and that he only listened to their grievances without taking any action.
The latest episode adds to earlier controversies surrounding the mayor.
During a footpath eviction drive, he made a driver perform sit-ups while holding his ears, a humiliating punishment that even a court has no authority to impose.
He later apologised after labelling people from Banshkhali as terrorists and saying they should be beaten.
The latest controversy has now raised questions over the mayor’s relationship with Boga.
Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury, general secretary of the Chattogram district unit of Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN), told TIMES, “To address allegations of unlawful activity against the OC, there are proper rules and procedures through which redress can be sought. But openly venting anger or making vitriolic remarks cannot be the conduct of a responsible public representative or someone holding public office.”
In his view, such actions by the mayor clearly illustrate a tendency to shelter and nurture criminals.
Muhammad Nazrul Islam, ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Chattogram city unit, told TIMES, “Through questionable acts, the city’s term-expired mayor has proved himself to be the godfather of terrorists in Chattogram city.”
These actions have triggered the slogan – ‘Dr Shahadat is wonderful; term over, he is the godfather of terrorists’, he said.
Arif Moinuddin, member secretary of the Chattogram city unit of the National Citizen Party (NCP), added, “The OC promptly gets labelled an ‘Awami League accomplice’ if any BNP extortionist or terrorist is arrested or an attempt is made to arrest them.”
On the other hand, if proceeds from extortion and terrorism are shared with the police, he can remain a ‘BNP’ OC, he lamented.
In mayor’s eyes, Boga is a ‘struggler’, his brothers, victims
After the operation, Shahadat openly praised Boga, claiming that he had been involved in movements and struggles for 17 to 18 years of the Awami League regime and was also a fighter during the July-August 2024 mass uprising.
But Boga’s record and police records present a different picture.
Until four months ago, Boga, a follower of the mayor, was joint convener of the Chattogram Swechchhasebak Dal. He was expelled from the organisation on 8 June after a series of criminal allegations surfaced following the BNP’s assumption of power.
Police said there are 23 cases against him involving allegations including arms, drugs and extortion. At various times, police have also found themselves helpless in the face of his influence.
On 29 August, a case was filed against Boga at Khulshi Police Station over allegations that Pahartali College teacher Mizanur Rahman was abducted and beaten.
OC Rahim later filed a general diary alleging that Boga had called him “Awami League” for accepting the case, threatening to strip and beat him.
On the morning of 4 September, the police were attacked when they went to arrest Boga. Six police personnel, including OC Rahim, were injured and one of their vehicles was damaged.
Following the incident, Boga’s father filed a case in court against the OC, alleging that police had entered their house, vandalised and looted it, and assaulted family members.
On 29 September, a man named Hridoy was killed in a clash between two teenage gangs — Seven Star and Five Star — in Wireless Colony. Boga was also named as an accused in that case.
Locals said Seven Star is Boga’s group, while Five Star is linked to the group of Khulshi Thana Jubo Dal Convener Helal Hossain.
On Tuesday, the day of the operation at Nagar Bhaban, another case was filed at Khulshi Police Station naming Boga and 36 others, along with 150 to 200 unidentified people, over allegations of plot grabbing, extortion and abduction.
The complainant cited five incidents in the case statement, including allegations that he was abducted on 11 February and 25 April and taken to Wakil’s den, where extortion demands were made.
Shahadat, however, alleged that the OC and a sub-inspector beat an accused named Kamrul, forcing him to name Boga and his brother, after which cases were filed against them.
Why was the OC transferred?
On Wednesday, at an event in the Eidgaon area of the port city, Shahadat vented anger against the Khulshi OC, alleging that he was harassing BNP, Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal leaders and activists by filing cases against them.
Within two hours, Rahim was removed from his post as OC and attached to CMP’s Special Branch.
CMP Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Faisal Ahmed described it as a “routine transfer”.
Rahim, however, was transferred to Khulshi Police Station only on 24 August.
Asked whether a transfer after less than one-and-a-half months could be described as “routine”, Faisal said, “If an OC does not have the capability, he can be transferred.”
Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury also said he did not believe it was a routine transfer.
He said, “Taking this step immediately after the mayor’s remarks indicates a lack of administrative balance between the state machinery and the ruling party, and does not send a positive message to ordinary citizens.”
Journalists confronted, then threatened
Several journalists who went to the scene to report the incident also alleged they were harassed.
Anik Akand, multimedia reporter for Kaler Kantho in Chattogram, told TIMES, “The mayor asked us in a hectoring tone as to why we had gone there. Some outsiders, known as followers of the mayor or Boga, also misbehaved with journalists.”
Raisha Hasan, Chattogram staff reporter for Info Bangla, said, “I protested when I saw several people dragging away a journalist named Arafat. Then a man in a red shirt pushed me. I fell and was injured.”
A message sent from Boga’s WhatsApp number to Kamal Parvez, resident editor of private television channel Channel 24, who had gone to cover the incident, read, “You are doing false news about me after taking money. You will also face justice.”
Journalists held a human chain in front of Karnaphuli Tower in the city’s Kazir Dewri area yesterday afternoon over the incident.
Shahadat has also threatened to file cases against journalists.
He alleged that, ahead of the upcoming election, a “vested quarter” fabricated stories involving Boga to tarnish his image. He said cases would be filed against journalists or media outlets that published such reports if they failed to prove the allegations.
Sabur Shuvo, general secretary of the Chattogram Union of Journalists, told TIMES, “Since the premises are under the mayor’s authority, the burden of proving that the terrorist was not there lies with him. For a transparent and impartial verification, he should make all CCTV footage public.”
Police statements lack consistency
Who told you that police went to conduct an operation at the City Corporation? Questioned CMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Faisal Ahmed while speaking to TIMES, adding: “We were not obstructed during any operation either.”
CMP Assistant Commissioner (Media) Aminur Rashid, however, gave a different account.
“Based on secret information, we learnt that Boga was staying in Tigerpass and the surrounding area. Our intelligence personnel were also positioned at Tigerpass and on the roads leading to the mayor’s office, Ispahani intersection and towards Navy Convention. However, we could not arrest him. Warned beforehand, he left the area,” said Aminur Rashid.
How does he remain mayor?
The Chattogram City Corporation’s five-year term, counted from its first meeting on 23 February 2021, expired on 22 February 2026 under the Local Government (City Corporation) Act.
Shahadat challenged the 2021 election result in court. Following the 2024 mass uprising, an election tribunal ruled in his favour on 1 October, and he took oath as mayor on 3 November that year.
The ruling did not expressly create a fresh five-year term. However, after the corporation’s term expired, no new election was held and no administrator was appointed.
Local Government Division officials could not explain the legal basis on which Shahadat continues to serve as mayor, while neither the ministry nor Shahadat has sought a fresh court ruling on the issue.
Shahadat has, however, told journalists in Chattogram on several occasions that, according to the court ruling, his tenure runs until 3 November 2029.
