BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has responded to various criticisms surrounding the announcement of a court declaring him mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation, cancelling the gazette notification that declared Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh the winner of the 2020 election.
Speaking at an event organized by the party at BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka, on Friday, he clarified that he did not lose the 2020 election but was instead wrongfully defeated and had filed a case in accordance with the law immediately after the election.
Ishraque was declared mayor by the court after the judgment annulled the results of the 2020 Dhaka South City Corporation election, and former mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka’s son, Ishraque Hossain, was announced the winner.
Ishraque responded to reactions on social media and elsewhere, explaining that there was a lack of understanding regarding the case.
He said: “Many may think that this case was filed after August 5, 2024, or that we completed this process after that date. I want to clarify that according to local government election law, complaints must be filed within 30 days of the election, and the case was filed within that period. Though the law stipulates that the case should be resolved within 180 days, during the fascist regime of Hasina, this process was obstructed."
He added: "The illegal power usurper Taposh applied pressure in both higher and lower courts to have this case dismissed.”
Ishraque also mentioned that the legal proceedings continued following the proper legal process in the higher courts, where witness hearings and arguments took place, eventually leading to the desired verdict being issued on the previous day.
He further said: “If seeking justice makes me an offender and if I face discrimination for demanding justice, I have nothing more to say or do in this case. The people will judge that.”
He also addressed critics, saying: “Instead of focusing on BNP’s candidate for mayor, they should have thanked us for setting a legal precedent, which is our main goal: to work for the rule of law.”
