‘Most wanted’ criminal joins KCC general meeting

All facilities were provided to him to retain the post of ward commissioner as he could not attend two previous meetings, fearing arrest by police or Rab.

As per rule, a ward commissioner loses his post if he does not attend three consecutive general meetings of the City Corporation. Mukta did not attend two previous general meetings of KCC.

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The listed most wanted criminal entered the conference room at 12-35 pm on Sunday and left the corporation soon after putting his signature on the attendance register in presence of Mayor Shaikh Tayebur Rahman and all other ward commissioners.

The 10th special general meeting was called by the Mayor to get the Tk 284.55 crore KCC annual budget approved by ward commissioners.

When asked, Mayor Shaikh Tayebur Rahman told this correspondent that it was not his responsibility to arrest Ward Commissioner Mohammod Hossain Mukta.

"I was presiding over an open meeting on KCC budget and not a secret meeting of any party. All ward commissioners, no matter he is Mukta or any other else, are entitled to attend the general meeting", the Mayor said.

Ward Commissioner Mohammod Hossain Mukta is an unknown man to my law enforces deployed in the corporation to provide security to the Mayor.

Policemen on duty there said they did not know that Mukta is a listed criminal, said Akbar Ali, DC (Hq) of Khulna Metropolitan Police.

The wanted criminal managed to escape before we could know about his presence in the city corporation office, Akbar Ali said.

Six ward commissioners belonging to BNP and Awami League said they were also surprised to see Mukta in the general meeting. More surprising was how he could enter the corporation right under the nose of policemen and man of intelligence agencies, they said.

Mohammod Hossain Mukta, elected commissioner three times from ward no. 31 went into hiding in the face of operation by Rab. Both Rab and police have so far failed to arrest him despite searches.

Known to be the 'lord' of the Sundarbans, Mukta is still heading an organised gang of armed criminals, involved in piracy and plunder of forest resources.