Staff Reporter :
A Dhaka court has declared BNP candidate Ishraq Hossain the winner of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) election, which took place on 1 February 2020.
On Thursday (27 March), Dhaka’s First Joint District Judge, Md. Nurul Islam, presiding over the election tribunal, announced the verdict.
As a result of the ruling, the government’s gazette that declared former mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, who contested under the “Boat” symbol, has been annulled.
The court has instead recognised Ishraq Hossain, who ran with the “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol, as the legitimate mayor. Ishraq Hossain was present in court when the verdict was delivered.
On 3 March 2020, Ishraq Hossain filed a case challenging the DSCC election results, alleging irregularities, corruption, and a lack of credibility.
The petition named eight respondents, including the then-Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda, Returning Officer Md. Abdul Baten, and Dhaka South Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.
Ishraq’s lawyer, Taherul Islam Tawhid, stated, “We filed the case on grounds of irregularities, corruption, and lack of credibility. We requested the court to declare Ishraq as the mayor.
Today, the court ruled in our favour and officially declared Ishraq Hossain as the mayor.”
The Dhaka North and South City Corporation elections were held on 1 February 2020.
In that election, Awami League candidates Atiqul Islam and Fazle Noor Taposh were declared winners of the mayoral posts for Dhaka North and Dhaka South, respectively.
The Election Commission published the official gazette confirming the results on 2 February, and the mayors were sworn into office shortly thereafter.
However, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, both mayors were removed from their positions.
On 16 October last year, former Dhaka North Mayor Atiqul Islam was arrested by Mohammadpur police in the Mohakhali DOHS area of the capital.
He was subsequently shown arrested in multiple cases and remains in custody after being placed on remand.
Meanwhile, the whereabouts of former Dhaka South Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh remain unknown.
Various sources suggest he left the country before Sheikh Hasina’s government was deposed.
Under election law, a dissatisfied candidate or their nominee must file a petition with the election tribunal within 30 days of the publication of the election results.
The tribunal is required to resolve the case within 180 days. If either party is dissatisfied with the tribunal’s verdict, they may appeal to the Election Appeal Tribunal within 30 days, which must deliver a final decision within 120 days.
