Sylhet City Corporation ( - in short: SCC), is a local government authority responsible for administering all civic services in the Sylhet, the city of Bangladesh. The SCC government is elected by popular vote every five years. The corporation is headed by a mayor, who oversees a council consisting of 56 councillors representing different wards of the city. The functions and powers of the SCC are defined under the provisions of Sylhet City Corporation Act, 2001।

History Urban administration in Sylhet dates back to the British colonial period. The town was first administered as a municipality with the establishment of the Sylhet Municipality in 1878, making it one of the oldest municipal bodies in present-day Bangladesh.

Following the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, Sylhet Municipality continued to function as a pourashava, overseeing local civic administration and urban services. With rapid population growth, urban expansion, and increasing administrative demands, the need for an upgraded metropolitan governance structure became evident.

As part of the government's decentralization and urban development initiatives, the Sylhet Municipality was upgraded to a city corporation in 2001 under the Local Government (City Corporation) Act. Consequently, the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) was officially formed, granting the city enhanced administrative autonomy and expanded responsibilities.

Since its establishment, the SCC has played a central role in managing urban infrastructure, public health, sanitation, transportation, and development planning. The city corporation has also overseen successive expansions of municipal services and administrative wards in response to Sylhet’s growing metropolitan population.

At the 2022 Bangladesh Population and Housing Census, SCC has a population of 532,426 of whom 275,838 are male and 256,474 are female.

Administration The Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) administers the metropolitan area of Sylhet. The city is governed through 6 metropolitan thanas: Kotwali Model Thana, South Surma Thana, Moglabazar Thana, Jalalabad Thana, Bimanbandar Thana, Shah Poran Thana. These thanas are further subdivided into 42 wards and numerous mahallas. The SCC is responsible for municipal governance and civic services, including water supply, sanitation, waste management, road maintenance, street lighting, public health, and urban development within its jurisdiction.

Functions and services The Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) is responsible for administering the city and ensuring the provision of essential infrastructure and public services. Its functions include urban planning, transport management, healthcare, education, waste management, water supply, and security. Through these services, SCC aims to improve the quality of life for residents and promote sustainable urban development. +Departments of Sylhet City Corporation#Departments Functions / Services1Office of the MayorExecutive administration; city governance; supervision of all SCC services2Chief Executive OfficeDepartmental coordination; service implementation monitoring3Administration And EstablishmentHR management; staff recruitment; service delivery monitoring4Finance and Accounts Budget preparation; financial planning; payment processing; accounts management; internal audit5Engineering Road-cutting permission; building design approval; contractor registration; land demarcation certificates6Urban Planning and DevelopmentRoad, drain, bridge, culvert and footpath development; land development; planned residential areas; city beautification7Electricity Installation and maintenance of street lights; lamp-post management; city illumination8Transportation and CommunicationUrban transport management; traffic & parking control; emergency transport; corpse handling; bus terminal management; road roller & ambulance services9Waste Management and CleaningSolid waste collection and disposal; street cleaning; drain clearing; mosquito control; landfill management10HealthHospital & clinic management; maternal & child immunization; vitamin A campaigns; midwifery and health technology training11Registrar Birth & death certificates; nationality, inheritance & character certificates12EducationManagement of schools, madrasas, Sanskrit tolls, kindergartens, technical institutes; adult education; teacher training; cultural & theatre institutes13Water Supply and SewerageWater supply coordination; sewerage management under Sylhet WASA14RevenueTrade license issuance & renewal; holding tax collection; shop/market allotment; lease and asset management15Security and Law and OrderCity security; joint operations with SMP; CCTV installation and monitoring16MagistracyArbitration-based case settlement; mobile courts; anti-adulteration drives17Housing and Public WorksDistribution and maintenance of residential plots and flats18Cultural and Social DevelopmentNational Day celebrations; charity programs; and children’s park and playground construction & maintenance19Environmental ProtectionPollution control; climate change mitigation; urban greening; tree plantation20Religious Welfare Support for Eid, Puja, and religious events; Qurbani market permissions; land allocation for religious events

Annual budget Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) has announced a budget of for 2023-24 fiscal year.

Wards and councillors

Sylhet City Corporation is administratively divided into 42 wards. Each ward is represented by one elected councillor, while additional reserved women councillors are elected for groups of wards, as provided under the Local Government (City Corporation) Act.

Councillors + Ward Locations Covered Councillor Party Ward-1 Dargah Gate, Dargah Mahalla, Rajargali Vacant TBD Ward-2 Zindabazar (part), Kazi Elias, Dariapara Ward-3 Subid Bazar, Pathantula Ward-4 Amberkhana, Rikabi Bazar Ward-5 Mirer Moydan, Kazitula Ward-6 Bandar Bazar Ward-7 Lamabazar Ward-8 Kuarpar Ward-9 Tilagor Ward-10 Shibgonj Ward-11 Baluchor Ward-12 Taltola Ward-13 Modina Market Ward-14 Housing Estate, Shahi Eidgah (part) Ward-15 Shahi Eidgah Ward-16 Bagbari Ward-17 Lalabazar Ward-18 Khadimnagar Ward-19 Khadimpara Ward-20 Jalalabad Ward-21 Islampur Ward-22 Tukerbazar Ward-23 Moglabazar Ward-24 Akhalia Ward-25 Akhalia (part), Mollargaon Ward-26 Nayasarak Ward-27 Uposhohor Ward-28 Mirabazar Ward-29 Naiorpul Ward-30 Chowhatta Ward-31 Sheikhghat Ward-32 Kazir Bazar Ward-33 Sagor Dighirpar Ward-34 Electric Supply area Ward-35 South Surma (part) Ward-36 South Surma Ward-37 South Surma (extended) Ward-38 Kadamtali Ward-39 Shibgonj (extended) Ward-40 Airport Road area Ward-41 Subhani Ghat Ward-42 Mendibagh Reserved women's seats 43 Women's seat-1 Vacant TBD 44 Women's seat-2 45 Women's seat-3 46 Women's seat-4 47 Women's seat-5 48 Women's seat-6 49 Women's seat-7 50 Women's seat-8 51 Women's seat-9 52 Women's seat-10 53 Women's seat-11 54 Women's seat-12 55 Women's seat-13 56 Women's seat-14

List of mayors

Deputies The deputy mayor (also known as Panel mayor) is a second-ranking official of city corporation. 3 Panel mayors are appointed by vote of councillors. The 1st panel mayor with the highest number of votes is appointed as deputy mayor. In the absence of the mayor, the deputy mayor controls all functions of the City Corporation. Serial No. Post Name 01 Panel Mayor 1 Vacant 02 Panel Mayor 2 Vacant 03 Panel Mayor 3 Vacant

Past elections

References