Leave to appeal filed seeking stay on Ishraque’s mayoral declaration
Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Hossain, representing the petitioner, told Prothom Alo, “The leave to appeal has been filed seeking a stay on the High Court's order. The hearing may take place today or tomorrow in the Chamber Court”
A leave to appeal has been filed with the Appellate Division, seeking a stay on the electoral tribunal's verdict and the Election Commission's (EC) gazette that declared BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation.
The application was submitted today (26 May) to the relevant branch of the Supreme Court's Appellate Division, reports Prothom Alo.
The move comes four days after the High Court on 22 May summarily dismissed a writ petition that sought to stay both the tribunal's verdict and the EC's gazette.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The petitioner has now filed a leave to appeal against that order, again requesting a stay on Ishraque's mayoral declaration and related proceedings.
Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Hossain, representing the petitioner, told Prothom Alo, "The leave to appeal has been filed seeking a stay on the High Court's order. The hearing may take place today or tomorrow in the Chamber Court."
Earlier, on 13 May, Supreme Court lawyer Md Mamunur Rashid filed the initial writ petition seeking to halt the tribunal's verdict and the EC's actions.
That petition was dismissed on 22 May, with the High Court ruling that the matter falls under electoral jurisdiction and is not within the scope of judicial review under Article 102 of the Constitution. The full order was released on the same day.
The dispute centres on the 1 February 2020 Dhaka South City Corporation election, in which Awami League's Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh was declared the winner amid allegations of electoral irregularities.
In March that year, Ishraque challenged the result in court. On 27 March 2024, the First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal in Dhaka ruled in his favour, declaring him the elected mayor and nullifying the previous result.
Following the verdict, the Election Commission issued a gazette on 27 April declaring Ishraque as mayor.
However, on 14 May, a writ petition was filed by lawyer Md Mamunur Rashid to block Ishraque's swearing-in.
Since 15 May, Ishraque's supporters have continued protests at Nagar Bhaban, demanding that he be administered the oath of office and handed charge.
