The Election Commission has officially gazetted Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Ishraque Hossain as the new mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
Senior Secretary of the Election Commission, Akhtar Ahmed, confirmed the development to Dhaka Post on Sunday (27 April).
Earlier, on 22 April, the Election Commission had sought the opinion of the Law Ministry on whether a gazette notification was necessary to formalise Ishraque's appointment.
Upon receiving a positive response, chief election commissioner (CEC) and other commissioners convened a meeting, where they decided to issue the notification that very night.
The court ruling annulled the government’s previous gazette which had installed Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, representing the Awami League's "boat" symbol, as mayor.
Instead, Ishraque Hossain, who contested under the BNP's "sheaf of paddy" symbol, was declared the rightful winner.
Sources confirmed that Ishraque Hossain had filed a lawsuit on 3 March 2020, challenging the DSCC election results on grounds of irregularities, corruption, and a lack of credibility.
Following the verdict, Ishraque's lawyer Rafiqul Islam stated, “We had petitioned to annul the election due to widespread irregularities and corruption, and requested that Ishraque Hossain be declared mayor. The court has ruled in our favour today.”
The elections for Dhaka North and South City Corporations were held on 1 February 2020, in which Awami League candidates Atiqul Islam and Fazle Noor Taposh were elected mayors of Dhaka North and South respectively.
The Election Commission gazetted the results on 2 February, and both assumed office following their oath-taking ceremonies.
However, following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government, both mayors were dismissed from office.
