The High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition seeking to suspend the Election Commission’s gazette notification declaring BNP leader Ishraque Hossain mayor of the Dhaka South City Corporation.
The bench of Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury delivered the order following a hearing on the writ filed by Supreme Court lawyer Md Mamunur Rashid on May 13.
The petition challenged the Election Commission’s April 27 gazette and the underlying Election Tribunal verdict that had annulled the 2020 DSCC election result, which had declared Awami League (now banned) candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh as mayor.
The writ sought to stay the gazette and the tribunal ruling, arguing procedural flaws and calling for a review.
Taposh was elected mayor in the February 1, 2020 polls and formally assumed office following the publication of the official results on February 2 that year.
Ishraque, a BNP leader and candidate in the same race, filed a legal challenge on March 3, 2020, alleging irregularities and corruption.
Months after the Awami League’s ousting in August, the Election Tribunal ruled in Ishraque’s favour on March 27 this year, declaring his opponent’s election void and naming him the rightful winner.
The Election Commission issued a gazette notification accordingly on April 27 and wrote to the local government ministry to initiate arrangements for Ishraque’s oath-taking.
However, no action followed, prompting protests by his supporters.
