Declaring Ishraque mayor: LGD sends letter to law ministry seeking opinion

The Local Government Division (LGD) has sent a letter to the Law Ministry seeking opinion if there is any legal complications arising from the court verdict in mayoral candidate Ishraque Hossain's election case and the Election Commission's subsequent failure to file an appeal.

The letter, signed by Local Government Division Joint Secretary Mahbuba Irin, was sent to the secretary of Law and Justice Division yesterday (15 May), BSS reports quoting Public Relations Officer of LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry Md Salahuddin.

The letter states that the Election Commission has decided not to appeal the trial court's verdict that declared Ishraque Hossain elected mayor. In light of this, the Ministry of Local Government has requested the Law and Justice Division's opinion on whether any legal complications might arise in taking further steps under Section 6 of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, 2009.

Ishraque Hossain, a member of the BNP's foreign affairs committee, was declared mayor of Dhaka South by the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal on 27 March this year. The Election Commission subsequently issued a gazette on 27 April, officially recognising him as mayor.