EC publishes gazette declaring Ishraque Hossain as Dhaka South mayor

The Election Commission (EC) has published a gazette announcing Ishraque Hossain, the son of former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

The gazette was issued today (27 April), EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed to The Business Standard at around 10:30pm.

Earlier, on 27 March, a Dhaka court declared BNP leader Ishraque as the DSCC mayor by rejecting the results of the elections held on 1 February 2020.

Dhaka's First Joint District Judge Md Nurul Islam, who is in charge of the Election Tribunal, announced the verdict that day.

BNP-backed mayoral candidate Ishraque filed the case with the Election Tribunal on 3 March 2020, alleging vote rigging and seeking the cancellation of the results of the DSCC elections held on 1 February 2020.

In the verdict, the government's gazette for former mayor Sheikh Fazle Nur Taposh with the boat symbol was cancelled, declaring Ishraque, who contested with the paddy sheaf symbol, as the mayor. 

In the case filed by Ishraque, a total of eight people, including Taposh, the then chief election commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda, and returning officer Md Abdul Baten, were named as defendants.

Earlier on 1 October 2024, a Chattogram court had declared BNP leader and mayoral candidate Shahadat Hossain mayor-elect of the Chattogram City Corporation after he filed a lawsuit seeking cancellation of the election results over "vote rigging."

Shahadat had filed the lawsuit against the Election Commission and nine others back on 24 February 2021 during the CCC election.