Gazipur polls by Jun 28: Top court overturns stay order

The Supreme Court has overturned a High Court stay order on the Gazipur City Corporation polls and directed the Election Commission to hold the election by Jun 28.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, issued the order on Thursday in response to the petitions filed by two mayoral candidates—AL candidate Zahangir Alam and BNP candidate Hasan Uddin Sarkar, and the Election Commission.

On Mar 31, the EC had set May 15 for holding Gazipur elections. The campaigns of both parties have reached its peak.

Amid the election campaign reaching its peak, Shimulia-1 Union Chairman ABM Azharul Islam Suroj filed a case in the court on May 6, challenging the inclusion of six administrative districts (mouzas) into the city corporation’s coverage.

After hearing a petition filed by him, the HC stayed the Gazipur elections for three months.

Following the day, both the BNP-nominated and AL-nominated candidates challenged the HC stay order.

Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division, sent the both petitions to the full bench for hearing on Wednesday.

On the hearing day, the EC lawyer also filed a writ petition challenging the stay order. Later, the chief justice fixed Thursday to hear three appeals together.