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Published : 29 May 2025, 08:55 PM
The path forward for BNP leader Ishraque Hossain will be decided after the Supreme Court verdict is reviewed, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin has said as legal questions loom over his mayoral oath.
He spoke on Thursday evening following a nearly three-hour meeting with the four election commissioners at the Nirbachan Bhaban, or Election Building, in Dhaka’s Agargaon.
“We have not yet received the verdict from the Appellate Division. Once we get the copy, we will review the legal aspects and act accordingly,” the CEC said in response to a question.
“You cannot make decisions based on media headlines,” he added.
The term of the current Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) expires on Jun 1.
The Election Commission (EC) named Ishraque mayor in a gazette on Apr 27, sparking a legal tussle that stretched across the EC, local government ministry, law ministry, and both tiers of the Supreme Court.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division turned down the petition seeking to block his oath, made its observations, but did not issue a stay on the gazette.
The top court, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the EC’s handling of the matter, saying the commission had failed to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.
The observation came from a seven-judge Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.
The verdict left ambiguity over whether Ishraque would be able to assume office as mayor.
The court also criticised the EC for consulting the law ministry over the gazette, noting that the constitution requires the ministry to assist the EC -- not the other way around.
After the hearing, EC lawyer Yasin Khan said the watchdog will decide on Ishraque as a constitutional body and that the court's observations will be detailed when the written verdict is published.
He also noted that the Supreme Court did not interfere with the gazette issued declaring Ishraque as mayor.
The lawyers on both sides of the petition, however, are claiming a win.
The writ petitioner's lawyer Mohammad Hossain said that since the Supreme Court has settled the matter, they believe that the gazette issued by the EC declaring Ishraque as mayor is no longer valid.
Ishraque’s counsel Mahbub Uddin Khokon said, “The gazette remains in effect. We believe it was the government’s responsibility to administer the oath.”
