Jahangir files writ to contest in Gazipur city polls

Mohammad Jahangir Alam has filed a writ petition against the cancellation of his nomination paper for the post of mayor in the upcoming Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) polls.

The former mayor (dismissed) filed the plea with the High Court bench concerned on Sunday.

Jahangir's lawyer Advocate Nakib Saiful Islam told The Business Standard, "The writ may be heard in the High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam on Monday."

The lawyer said the writ sought an order to stay the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner's order that rejected an appeal against the Returning Officer's decision.

The writ also seeks directives to give Jahangir Alam the right to contest in the GCC election, added Advocate Nakib.

On 30 April, Returning Officer Faridul Islam scrutinised and rejected Jahangir Alam's nomination papers over allegations of loan default.

Later, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Md Sabirul Islam rejected Jahangir's appeal against the decision on 4 May.

As a result, the Returning Officer's decision to cancel Jahangir's nomination in the upcoming Gazipur City Corporation election remains in effect.

Meanwhile, as Jahangir's mother Zayeda Khatun's nomination was deemed valid, she remains in the electoral race for the mayoral post.

Jahangir Alam was elected mayor of the Gazipur City Corporation from the Awami League in 2018.

He was suspended from the post of mayor in November 2021 on charges of corruption, abuse of power and mismanagement. He was also expelled from the Awami League for breaching party discipline.

However, Jahangir was reinstated to the party in January this year, subject to conditions.

This time, Jahangir failed to secure Awami League nomination to contest for the post of Gazipur mayor in the upcoming city polls as the party picked Metropolitan Awami League President Azmat Ullah Khan.