The South and North City Corporations on Tuesday said that they were awaiting government decisions on services provided by ward councillors as many of them had been absent from work since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, leading to disruptions in essential services.Â
DSCC and DNCC administrators Md Sher Ali, additional secretary of the Local Government Division, and Md Mahmudul Hasan, LGD director general, made the remarks while addressing queries on the issue at separate press briefings held at their respective offices in the capital. Â
DSCC Administrator Sher Ali said, ‘City corporation services are active and will continue. Decisions on the services provided by ward councillors will be made centrally.’Â
He warned that action would be taken against any officials found to be intentionally neglecting their duties in providing services, including issuance of trade licences.
DNCC administrator Mahmudul Hasan also said that no government decision was made regarding the duties of DNCC ward councillors.
He further said that mosquito control activities would be strengthened to prevent dengue.
Canals will also be freed of encroachers to ensure natural flow, Mahmudul said, adding that other services, including the issuance of birth and death certificates will continue. Â
Mayors and most of 172 councillors of the two city corporations, mainly from the Awami League, remained absent from their offices after many of their offices and houses faced vandalism and arson attacks following Hasina’s departure from the country. Â
The situation disrupted many essential services provided by the ward councillors to the city residents, including issuing inheritance certificates, birth certificates, death certificates, character certificates and citizenship certificates required for various objectives, getting national identity cards, passports, and others.Â
On August 19, the interim government removed the representatives of all local government bodies, excepting those elected to union parishads, and appointed administrators, citing the absence of chairmen and mayors in offices after the fall of the AL government on August 5.