Two writ petitions seek stay on DNCC mayoral by-polls

Two writ petitions have been filed with the High Court (HC) on Tuesday seeking stay on the upcoming by-polls for the mayoral post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), reports UNB.

Chairmen of Bhatara and Beraid, Ataur Rahman, and Jahangir Alam, respectively filed the writs seeking stay on the by-polls.

According to the writs, the voter list of 18 wards which were freshly added to DNCC was yet to be prepared by EC as a result the two union chairmen are unable to collect nomination papers for themselves.

A bench of Justice Naima Haydar and Justice Zafar Ahmed heard the writs and set Wednesday to deliver the verdict.

Advocate Ahsan Habib who moved the petition said five people including secretary of the Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LGRD) Ministry and secretary of the Election Commission (EC) were made respondents to the writ petitions.

The by-polls for the mayoral post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) were scheduled to be held on February 26.The EC fixed January 18 as the last date for filing nomination paper while scrutiny will be held on January 21, 22.

The closing date for nomination paper withdrawal is January 29.

Besides, the EC will arrange polls to the 36 councilor posts and 12 reserved seats in the 36 new wards -- 18 of the DNCC and 18 of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) -- on the same day.

The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant following the death of Annisul Huq on November 30 last.