Decision will be made after receiving verdict copy: CEC on Ishraque issue
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Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has stated that the Election Commission (EC) will take necessary steps regarding BNP leader Ishraque Hossain’s assumption of office as mayor once it officially receives the copy of the Appellate Division’s verdict.
He made the remarks on Thursday (May 29) while responding to questions from journalists at the Election Commission headquarters.
The Appellate Division on Thursday said the EC will decide whether Ishraque will be sworn in as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) or not, disposing of the leave-to-appeal petition seeking a stay on the Election Commission’s gazette notification and the Election Tribunal’s verdict declaring the BNP leader as DSCC mayor.
The High Court on May 22 dismissed a writ petition that sought a directive against administering the oath of office to BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), clearing the way for his swearing-in, according to a UNB report.
On May 14, Dhaka South resident Md Mamunur Rashid filed the writ petition seeking a stay on Ishraque’s swearing-in and disciplinary action against the judge who declared him mayor.
The petition also challenged the validity of the lower court’s verdict, which overturned the result of the 2020 DSCC polls.
The development came nearly two months after a lower court annulled the 2020 DSCC election result and declared Ishraque the BNP-nominated candidate, as the rightful mayor.
On February 1, 2020, Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh was declared the winner of the DSCC election, defeating Ishraque by a margin of nearly 200,000 votes. However, on 27 March 2024, Judge Md Nurul Islam of the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal nullified that result and declared Ishraque the victor.
On 27 April, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification announcing Ishraque as the new mayor of DSCC.
Supporters of Ishraque have been demonstrating in front of Nagar Bhaban for over a week, demanding that he be handed over the responsibilities of DSCC mayor without further delay, the report adds.