Bangla Press Desk: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday is set to hear the leave-to-appeal petition challenging BNP leader Ishraque Hossain’s upcoming oath taking as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Rezaul Haque on Tuesday fixed the date for hearing the appeal petition.
Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon stood for Ishraque while Advocate Mohammad Hossain represented the petitioner.
Earlier on Monday, a leave-to-appeal petition filed seeking stay on the lower court verdict and gazette notification issued by the Election Commission, announcing Ishraque as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
On 22 May, the High Court dismissed a writ petition that sought a directive against administering the oath of office to BNP leader Ishraque as mayor of DSCC, clearing the way for his swearing-in.
On 14 May, 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.
Advocate Kazi Akbar Ali represented the petitioner during the hearing, while Ishraque was represented by his legal team, who welcomed the decision and said there was now no legal barrier to his taking oath as DSCC mayor.
The development comes 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 1 February 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.
Subsequently, on 27 April, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification announcing Ishraque as the new mayor of DSCC.
Meanwhile, supporters of Ishraque resumed their protests in front of Nagar Bhaban on Monday, demanding that he be handed over the responsibilities of DSCC mayor without further delay. Source: DS
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