SC seeks EC’s clarification on Ishraque’s mayoral oath
Bangladesh desk: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Election Commission to clarify its position regarding an appeal seeking a stay on the commission’s gazette notification that declared BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation.
A seven-member bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed also adjourned the hearing on the appeal until next Wednesday, allowing time to hear both the Election Commission and the Local Government Division on the matter.
The directive came after senior lawyer AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, appearing for Ishraque, informed the court that the Election Commission had opted not to challenge the lower court’s March 27 ruling, which ordered it to recognise Ishraque as mayor in place of Awami League’s Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.
The appeal under review was filed by Supreme Court lawyer and Dhaka South City resident Mamunur Rashid.
He is seeking leave to appeal against the High Court’s May 22 order that dismissed his writ petition challenging Ishraque’s appointment.
The High Court had rejected Mamunur’s petition on the grounds that he lacked legal standing, as he was not a candidate in the 2020 DSCC election where Taposh was elected mayor.
Mamunur’s latest appeal not only challenges that High Court ruling but also contests the legality of the lower court’s directive that compelled the EC to issue the April 27 gazette officially naming Ishraque as mayor.
