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Dhaka, 29 May, 2025 : The swearing-in of Ishraque Hossain as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) remains in limbo due to legal complications and escalating political unrest. The DSCC election, held on February 1, 2020, saw Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh declared the winner.
Alleging electoral irregularities and corruption, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain filed a case on March 3, 2020, to cancel the results. On March 27, 2025, the Dhaka Election Tribunal annulled the previous result and declared Ishraque the mayor. On April 27, 2025, the Election Commission (EC) issued a gazette formally recognizing him as the mayor.
However, the oath-taking process has been delayed. On May 14, 2025, Md. Mamunur Rashid, a DSCC resident and Supreme Court lawyer, filed a writ petition in the High Court to block Ishraque’s oath. In response, Ishraque’s supporters launched protests on the same day, demanding his immediate swearing-in, paralyzing the DSCC city hall for the past two weeks.
Ishraque’s lawyer, Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, sent a legal notice to the Local Government Division, urging them to arrange the oath-taking, stating that the High Court’s ruling cleared all obstacles. He warned that failure to comply could lead to contempt of court.
Citing legal complexities, the Local Government Division noted that they had prepared for the oath-taking after the High Court dismissed the writ on May 22. However, on May 26, a citizen filed a ‘leave to appeal’ in the Appellate Division, further complicating the issue. Md. Salauddin, the ministry’s public relations officer, stated that the division is awaiting the court’s final decision.
Expressing frustration, Ishraque Hossain remarked, “If the interim government fails to administer the oath of one mayor, there is considerable public doubt about its ability to manage the swearing-in of 300 MPs in the future.” He urged the government to respect the court’s and people’s verdict and take effective measures. Additionally, he demanded the resignation of Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan.
On May 29, 2025, a seven-judge Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, concluded the hearing, stating that the Election Commission would make the final decision on Ishraque’s oath-taking.
The ongoing protests by Ishraque’s supporters have disrupted city hall operations, raising concerns among residents about the impact on civic services
AI/MR
