Online Report
The High Court is set to deliver its verdict on Wednesday regarding a writ petition that challenges the Election Commission’s gazette declaring BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as the Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
The bench comprising Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury fixed the date after completing the hearing on Tuesday.
Senior Advocate Mohammad Hossain appeared for the petitioner, while Advocate AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Barrister Kaisar Kamal represented Ishraque. Deputy Attorney General Mahfuzur Rahman Milon stood for the state.
The writ petition, filed on May 13 by Dhaka South resident Md Mamunur Rashid, seeks suspension of the gazette notification issued by the Election Commission on April 27. It also calls for legal action against the presiding judge of the Election Tribunal for allegedly delivering a “fraudulent” verdict.
On March 27, Judge Md Nurul Islam of the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal nullified the results of the 2020 DSCC election and declared Ishraque Hossain the validly elected mayor. The EC followed with an official gazette the following month, sparking legal and political controversy.
The petitioners had previously issued legal notices on April 28 to halt Ishraque’s swearing-in and to prompt an appeal or review of the tribunal’s ruling. Despite this, BNP supporters have staged a sit-in protest outside the city corporation offices for six consecutive days, pressing for Ishraque’s oath-taking.
The High Court’s upcoming verdict could set a crucial precedent in the unfolding legal and political saga surrounding the DSCC mayoral post.