Surayya Akhtar Jahan has been named as the new administrator of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) following the government’s decision to not extend Mohammad Azaz’s one-year contract. Surayya, an additional secretary at the Local Government Division, was appointed through a gazette notification signed by Mahbuba Irene, a joint secretary at the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives.
Azaz took on the role as a full-time administrator on February 9 last year for a one-year term. According to Md Alamgir Hossain, the public relations officer of the ministry, Azaz has not been dismissed but will be relieved of his duties upon the expiration of his term.
Surayya is scheduled to assume her new position on February 11. Azaz, who is also the chairman of the River and Delta Research Centre, has been under scrutiny for alleged corruption. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) initiated an inquiry against him in November last year for suspected abuse of power, irregularities, corruption, and bribery.
As part of the investigation, the ACC summoned Azaz for questioning at their headquarters on January 29, but he did not appear. Following a petition by the commission, a court imposed a travel ban on him on February 1.
