Former mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sayeed Khokon yesterday claimed incumbent Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh to be ineligible to continue the mayoral post.

Khokon said this while addressing a human chain in front of the High Court premises in the capital, demanding rehabilitation of those affected by a DSCC demolition drive last year.

Khokon alleged that Taposh transferred hundreds of crores of taka from DSCC's coffer to Modhumoti Bank, which is owned by the incumbent mayor.

Taposh received and was still receiving crores as profit from the money after it was invested to different individuals and organisations, Khokon alleged.

On the other hand, because of monetary shortage, poor employees of the DSCC were not being paid their due salaries for months, he further said.

Also, the city corporation's different development projects were halted because of budget shortage, alleged Khokon.

He said that, by committing such acts, Taposh has lost eligibility as mayor under the city corporation law.

This newspaper yesterday tried to reach Mayor Taposh for his comments over phone but could not.

Contacted, DSCC Public Relations Officer Md Abu Naser said they will not make immediate comments.

The media will later be informed about the DSCC's formal position regarding the matter, said Naser, also spokesperson of the city corporation.

About former mayor Khokon's allegation of non-payment of salaries to DSCC employees, sources at the city corporation said such allegation are false.

Addressing the human chain, Khokon also alleged that after becoming DSCC mayor, Taposh had been "talking big" against corruption.

He said such stories "do not suit coming from Taposh", claiming the incumbent mayor needs to free himself from corruption first to make his administration graft-free.

Khokon also termed the DSCC demolition drive "illegal".

He sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's intervention to ensure rehabilitation of the affected people.

On December 8 last year, the DSCC demolished several hundred illegal shops at Phulbaria Supermarket-2 in Gulistan, which were built violating the main design of the supermarket. Traders and shop owners protested the DSCC move back then.