Dhaka: The High Court on Monday stayed for six months the government order suspending Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury.

An HC bench comprising Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan passed the order following a writ petition filed by Ariful on Sunday challenging the legality of his suspension.

The court issued a rule asking the government to explain within four weeks why the suspension of Ariful Haque Chowdhury should not be declared illegal.

The HC also directed the authorities concerned, including the LGRD secretary, Home Secretary and Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner, not to create any obstruction to Ariful in discharging duty as the SCC mayor.

Barrister Mainul Hossain stood for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state.

On January 7, 2015, the government suspended  Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury as he had been charged with the killing of former Finance Minister SMA Kibria.