Mahfuzur Rahman Riton, the administrator of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC). Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, Mar 15, 2026 (BSS) - The surprise appointment of Mahfuzur Rahman Riton as the administrator of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has generated widespread excitement among party leaders, activists, and the city's youth, highlighting the rapid rise of the 48-year-old politician in local and metropolitan politics. 

Earlier, on November 1 last year, the committee of the Rajshahi Metropolitan unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was announced. 

Nearly three months later, Mahfuzur Rahman Riton was appointed as general secretary, surprising many, as he was then serving as president of Rajshahi Metropolitan Jubo Dal.

His consecutive appointments to two key positions in a short span have created fresh discussions in Rajshahi's political arena. 

Within three and a half months, Riton created another surprise. On Saturday (March 14), a gazette issued by the Local Government Division appointed full-time administrators to five city corporations across the country, including Rajshahi. 

In the order, Riton was assigned the responsibility of administrator of Rajshahi City Corporation.

At just 48 years old, Riton received this significant position ahead of many senior party leaders, sparking widespread discussion in political circles. 

However, his long political experience and strong ties with grassroots leaders and activists have earned him considerable popularity among the youth.

Party sources said Riton began his political journey while studying in the humanities department during the 1995-96 academic session at Rajshahi Government City College, where he served as president of the class committee. 

He later served as sports secretary and general secretary of the City College Students' Union.

He then became active in Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. From 2002 to 2012, he served as general secretary of Rajshahi Metropolitan Chhatra Dal, and until 2016, as its president. He also held the position of vice-president of the central Chhatra Dal.

After student politics, Riton joined Jubo Dal. In 2016, he became organizational secretary of Rajshahi Metropolitan Jubo Dal, and in 2017 was appointed general secretary, serving in that role until 2023. 

Later, he became president of the metropolitan Jubo Dal while simultaneously serving as vice-president of the central Jubo Dal. On November 1, 2025, while serving as Jubo Dal president, he was elected general secretary of the Rajshahi Metropolitan BNP.

Born on February 1, 1978, Riton currently resides in the Hetem Khan area of Rajshahi city. His educational qualification is LLB (Honours). 

For more than two and a half decades, he has actively participated in democratic movements and political struggles in Rajshahi, and has been imprisoned three times due to political activism.

Earlier, on February 22, the government appointed administrators to six city corporations across the country. Several BNP leaders were discussed as possible candidates for the Rajshahi City Corporation administrator position, including former mayor Mohammad Mosaddeque Hossain Bulbul, Rajshahi Metropolitan BNP president Mamun-or-Rashid Mamud, vice-president Waliul Haque Rana, and Abul Kalam Azad Sweet. However, the government ultimately entrusted this responsibility to the comparatively young Riton.
Political observers are now closely watching how Mahfuzur Rahman Riton will carry out his role as administrator of Rajshahi city, drawing on his extensive experience in political movements and leadership.