DHAKA, May 22 (V7N) – The High Court is set to deliver an order today, Thursday, May 22, 2025, on a writ petition seeking to prevent BNP leader Ishraq Hossain from being administered the oath as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The decision will determine whether Ishraq Hossain can proceed with taking the mayoral oath.

A bench comprising High Court Justice Md. Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury will issue the directive. The High Court is also expected to rule on a separate request for disciplinary action against the First Joint District Judge of Dhaka and the Judge of the Election Tribunal, who had previously declared Ishraq Hossain as the mayor.

The hearing for this writ petition, which encompasses both the prevention of Ishraq's oath and the disciplinary action against the judges, concluded on Wednesday.

The writ petition was filed on May 14, specifically requesting that Ishraq Hossain not be sworn in as DSCC mayor and seeking punitive measures against the First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal Judge who had annulled the previous election result.

Background of the Case:

The Dhaka South City Corporation elections were held on February 1, 2020, with Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh initially declared the winner and subsequently taking the oath and performing duties. Taposh secured 4.12 million votes, while his closest rival, BNP's Ishraq Hossain, received 2.36 million votes.

On March 3, 2020, Ishraq Hossain filed a case challenging the election results, citing alleged irregularities and corruption.

Following a change in government, city mayors across the country were removed, and Additional Secretary Shahjahan Mia served as the administrator for Dhaka South City. However, on March 27, Dhaka's First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal Judge Md. Nurul Islam annulled Taposh's victory and declared BNP leader Ishraq Hossain as the mayor. The court simultaneously ordered the publication of the gazette within 10 days. The Election Commission complied, publishing the gazette on April 27.

Subsequent to this verdict, on the same day, two individuals, Rafiqul Islam and Mamunur Rashid, served a legal notice announcing their intent to appeal the verdict and decree that declared Ishraq as mayor. The notice also urged Ishraq to refrain from publishing the gazette and taking the oath.

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