EC to Decide on Ishraque's Mayoral Appointment

The Election Commission (EC) will decide whether BNP leader Ishraque Hossain will be sworn in as the Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), according to an observation made by the Appellate Division.

On Thursday (May 29), a full bench of seven judges, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered this observation while disposing of a related petition. The EC presented its statement before the court, after which the hearing concluded with the court's decision.

A day earlier, on Wednesday (May 28), the court had scheduled the hearing to review the EC's stance on issuing a gazette notification declaring Ishraque Hossain as mayor. It also took up the hearing of a leave-to-appeal petition challenging a High Court verdict that dismissed a writ seeking to prevent Ishraque from taking oath. Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon represented Ishraq in court, while Advocate Mohammad Hossain appeared for the petitioner.

On May 14, a writ was filed in the High Court seeking to stop Ishraque's swearing-in and to take disciplinary action against the judge of the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal, who had declared him elected. The writ was filed by lawyer Kazi Akbar Ali on behalf of Dhaka South resident Md Mamunur Rashid. On May 26, the High Court rejected the petition. A leave-to-appeal was then filed against that rejection, leading to the current proceedings in the Appellate Division.