Local Government Division to decide on Ishraque’s oath after High Court order

Gazette issued on Apr 27 naming the BNP leader as mayor, but oath-taking is still pending

The Local Government Division says it will not proceed with BNP leader Ishraque Hossain’s swearing-in as Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor until the High Court rules on a pending writ petition.

It also urged his supporters to avoid causing “public suffering” through protests, warning it could amount to contempt of court.

The call came on day five of demonstrations demanding Ishraque be given mayoral duties.

Ishraque lost the DSCC election on Feb 1, 2020, to Awami League’s Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh by nearly 200,000 votes.

But on Mar 27 this year, Judge Md Nurul Islam of the Dhaka Election Tribunal overturned the result and declared Ishraque mayor.

The Election Commission (EC) issued a gazette on Apr 27 naming him mayor, but he has yet to take the oath.

Protests began on Wednesday, paralysing operations at the city corporation.

Demonstrators occupied the area again on Sunday and called a “blockade” for Monday.

On Saturday, they marched towards the Secretariat and declared Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain “unwelcome”.

That day, Ishraque sent a letter to the ministry seeking his oath and told a press conference BNP’s paddy sheaf candidates face discrimination.

On the day protests began, DSCC resident Md Mamunur Rashid filed a writ petition to block his oath and called for action against the tribunal judge behind the verdict.

In its Sunday notice, the Local Government Division said it would idecide next steps after the High Court rules on the writ petition.

“On the 28th of April, Supreme Court lawyer Md Mamunur Rashid sent a legal notice citing irregularities in the verdict and asked the Local Government Division not to arrange the oath,” the statement read.

“He also moved a writ petition challenging the tribunal’s Mar 27 verdict and the EC’s Apr 27 gazette,” it added.

The petition asked the court to order the law ministry to initiate disciplinary action against the tribunal judge for what it called a “fraudulent verdict”.

Following the Secretariat fire, offices of the Local government ministry had been temporarily shifted to Nagar Bhaban, but Advisor Asif has been unable to enter due to the demonstrations.

“The protests outside Nagar Bhaban have disrupted the work of both the ministry and the DSCC,” the statement read. “Public services are on hold.”