Ishraque claims government is in ‘contempt of court’, gives ‘last chance’ to be sworn in

Claiming that the interim government is in contempt of court, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain offered the government a “last opportunity” to hold the oath-taking ceremony, threatening to stage tougher protests otherwise.

Ishraque, who is aiming to become mayor of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), joined the protest in front of Nagar Bhaban on Thursday afternoon. His supporters have been demonstrating to demand that he be handed the reins to Dhaka South City for the past 16 days, bdnews24.com reports.

BNP leaders and activists, including city corporation employees and Ishraque supporters, organised under the banner of “Dhakabasi”, or Dhaka residents, to launch the protest on May 14. The programme has resumed after a 48-hour break.

Arriving at Thursday’s protest, Ishraque said: “The top court of Bangladesh has given us legitimacy and the appeal of those who petitioned has been dismissed. Through this, the gazette published by the Election Commission declaring me the mayor has been upheld.

“Today, by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh disposing of the appeal, we have demonstrated that we have believed in the rule of law and respected it from the beginning.

“The case we filed in the court with complete respect for the rule of law in Bangladesh has been proven once again. The leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP respect the law.”

Claiming that the interim government has committed contempt of court by not administering the oath of office to him, he said: “It is also proven that some advisors of the current interim government have behaved discriminatorily towards me and the current interim government has failed to fulfil its responsibility of administering the oath to me as mayor, which was announced by the Election Commission, by interfering in the judicial system and administration.”

“If they do not take steps to complete my oath-taking ceremony immediately, then this will prove to the Appellate Division - the highest court of Bangladesh - that they are engaging in contempt of court. Steps are being taken that amount to contempt.”

Ishraque warned of tougher protests, saying: “I will appeal to the current interim government for the last time - please take steps to hold my swearing-in ceremony soon. Otherwise from tomorrow, we will take along the people of Dhaka and escalate this movement further and intensify it.”

“If you do not, we will take steps to establish a completely impartial government system before the national elections under which the people can vote and through which an elected government will be formed.”

He said, “If they fail to swear in a mayor, then the people will have considerable doubts about whether they will be able to take effective steps to swear in 300 MPs in the future.

“Therefore, the interim government is being given a last chance. Correct yourselves. Accept the court’s verdict, accept the people’s verdict, and take effective steps.”

The most recent DSCC election was held on Feb 1, 2020. Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh defeated BNP’s Ishraque, son of former Dhaka mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, by nearly 200,000 votes in the polls.

Following the change in government in 2024, the Dhaka Election Tribunal on Mar 27 annulled the 2020 results and declared Ishraque the rightful mayor. The EC subsequently published a gazette notification on Apr 27, formally recognising him as DSCC mayor.

However, on May 14, a resident of Dhaka South and Supreme Court lawyer Md Mamunur Rashid filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking to halt Ishraque’s swearing-in.

In response, Ishraque’s supporters began protesting the same day, demanding that he be sworn in. Their demonstrations brought administrative operations at Nagar Bhaban to a virtual standstill.

Citing legal complexities, the Local Government Division held back on arranging the swearing-in until the matter was resolved in the judiciary. Ishraque has expressed his anger over the decision and has demanded the resignation of Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain over the delay.

The High Court dismissed the petition on May 22 on the grounds that the petitioner did not have the jurisdiction to file such a plea.

The petitioner then filed an appeal in the Appellate Division against the High Court order on Monday.

After hearing the leave to appeal, the Appellate Division disposed of the petition with observations on Thursday.