The question of when Ishraq Hossain, BNP leader and son of the late Liberation War hero and former mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, will take the oath as mayor of Dhaka South City is causing much debate in political and legal circles.
Will he truly be able to take the oath? Does the corporation’s tenure still remain? If so, how much longer? These questions have emerged following a recent court ruling.
On Thursday, Dhaka's First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal Judge Mohammad Nurul Islam ruled that the 2020 Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) election results be annulled and declared Ishraq Hossain the rightful mayor.
However, lawyers emphasise that in order for Ishraq to take the oath, the Election Commission (EC) must first issue a gazette notification in accordance with the court’s verdict. It is only upon the issuance of this gazette that Ishraq will be able to take the oath.
According to the Local Government (City Corporation) Act of 2009, calculations show that the five-year term of the council formed by the 2020 election will end on 15 May 2025.
This means that if Ishraq is to be sworn in, he must do so by this date.
In response to questions surrounding the oath, Ishraq’s lawyer, Mohammad Taherul Islam (Touhid), told Dainik Khobor on Saturday that the court has already declared Ishraq the mayor, but the decision on the oath will depend on the party's internal decisions, and the Election Commission will take further steps accordingly.
When asked for clarification, Election Commissioner Abdul Rahmanel Machoud remarked, "We have not yet received the court's ruling. Once we receive it, we will be able to make decisions accordingly."
The DSCC election was held on 1 February 2020, leading many to believe that the council’s five-year term had ended on 31 January 2025.
However, since Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh took the oath on 27 February 2020, some are calculating that the term officially ended on 26 February 2025.
Yet, even with these calculations, it appears that Ishraq Hossain has little opportunity to take the oath.
The Local Government Act (2009) specifies that the term of a city corporation begins on the date of its first meeting, not the election date.
Despite Taposh taking the oath on 27 February 2020, he officially assumed office as mayor on 16 May 2020.
Based on this, the five-year term concludes on 15 May 2025, meaning Ishraq must take the oath by this date.
Following Thursday's court ruling, Ishraq’s lawyers raised concerns about electoral malpractice during the 2020 election.
They cited attacks on Ishraq's vehicle convoy, tampering with EVM machines, voter obstruction, and vote-rigging.
Despite these claims, the Election Commission declared Taposh the winner. In response, Ishraq filed a case challenging the EC's decision, and the court has now declared him the rightful mayor.
In his case, Ishraq recounted how his campaign workers and agents were beaten, with media reports confirming these incidents.
Despite written complaints, no action was taken, and the Election Commission appeared to remain a silent observer.
On election day, his agents were expelled from polling stations, including those at the University of Dhaka's Curzon Hall.
Ishraq also detailed several other violations, including the use of illegal posters by Taposh’s campaign and the destruction of his own campaign materials.
His posters were torn down by members of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, and his campaign microphone was damaged.
With these ongoing legal challenges and electoral uncertainties, Ishraq Hossain’s path to officially becoming Mayor of Dhaka South City remains fraught with obstacles, leaving his oath-taking in question as the 15 May deadline looms.