BNP leader Ishraque Hossain on Thursday said whether he assumes office or takes the oath is entirely his party's decision, after a Dhaka court annulled the 2020 Dhaka South City Corporation election results and declared him as mayor.
“I offer my thanks to Almighty Allah. I have received justice. As a candidate of the BNP, I contested the mayoral election of the Dhaka South City Corporation on February 1, 2020, with the sheaf of paddy symbol. The entire nation witnessed broad daylight electoral fraud,” Ishraque told reporters on the premises of the court.
He added: “From the outset of the campaign, we repeatedly raised concerns that our campaign efforts were being obstructed in various ways. The BNP’s councilor candidates were arbitrarily arrested without any legal grounds. Our processions were attacked, and numerous party leaders and activists were brutally injured.
“On election day, I visited polling centers along with media representatives. Until 9:30am, many centers had not even opened. A few centers remained operational for about an hour to an hour and a half, after which all of them were shut down. Throughout the day, massive electoral irregularities took place, and my actual vote count was manipulated. We had filed a case regarding these issues at that time, and today, the court delivered its verdict.”
Highlighting the importance of justice, he said: “The key issue here is that I have received justice. Justice must be restored in Bangladesh so that every ordinary citizen can receive fair treatment. The process of justice that has begun following the fall of the murderous, autocratic, fascist Hasina regime must continue. Our ultimate goal is to establish justice at all levels of society.”
In response to a question, Ishraque said: “I will not comment on other elections. I pursued this legal battle regarding the 2020 election, despite deliberate attempts to prolong the legal proceedings. Hasina’s nephew, Taposh, personally intervened in court to obstruct the case. However, after August 5, we resumed the legal process, presented all necessary evidence, testimonies, and documentation, and ultimately won the case. It is not my place to comment on other elections.”
Addressing another question, he said: “In the past, commissions led by KM Nurul Huda and Awal played a role in undermining democracy and establishing a fascist regime in Bangladesh.”
He claimed: “Those who held constitutional positions in these commissions cannot evade their responsibilities. They were entrusted with constitutional authority and were expected to act independently without external influence. However, they failed in their duties. Legal proceedings should be initiated against them.”
On March 3, 2020, mayoral candidate Ishraque Hossain filed a case seeking the annulment of the Dhaka South City Corporation election and its results, citing allegations of irregularities, corruption and lack of credibility.
