An election tribunal in Dhaka on Thursday declared Ishraque Hossain, BNP mayoral candidate in the election held on February 1 in 2020, as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
Judge of the election tribunal and also First Joint District and Sessions Judge in Dhaka Md Nurul Islam delivered the verdict after hearing a petition filed by Ishraque, seeking cancellation of the gazette on DSCC election result published on February 4 in 2020 by the Election Commission.
The court also cancelled the gazette notification issued on the result of that election which named Awami League leader Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh as the DSCC mayor.
Confirming the court's latest declaration to the FE, Advocate Tahirul Islam Tawhid, a counsel for BNP leader Ishraque, said that the court also declared the previously published election result null and void.
During the delivery of the judgment, Ishraque was present at the court and expressed his satisfaction.
In a reaction, Ishraque commented that justice has been established through the verdict, saying his party (BNP) will take the decision whether he will take oath as a mayor or not.
"Whether I will take the oath as mayor or not is our party's decision," he said.
Afterwards, BNP leaders and activists brought out a procession to celebrate their legal victory.
Ishraque Hossain filed the petition on March 3 in 2020 seeking cancellation of the gazette in which Fazle Noor Taposh had been declared mayor of the DSCC and sought re-election.
The petition also raised allegations of irregularities, corruption and illegal practices in the DSCC elections.
The chief election commissioner, commission's secretary, winning candidate Fazle Noor Taposh, and five others have been made defendants to contest the suit filed by Ishraque Hossain.
Ishraque Hossain claimed that the February 1 election was held amid irregularities and corruption, adding that, on the day, a satisfactory number of voters did not turn up to cast their votes.
During the trial, five witnesses, including Ishraque Hossain, gave their statements before the court.
BNP mayoral candidate in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Tabith Awal also filed a petition with the same election tribunal seeking cancellation of the election result of DNCC.
Awami League mayoral candidates were elected in the Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation elections held on February 1 in 2020.
In the DSCC election, Fazle Noor Taposh won with 424,595 votes. He defeated Ishraq Hossain, who polled 236,512, by 188,083 votes.
Meanwhile, the interim government on August 19 last year removed the mayors of 12 city corporations, including Fazle Noor Taposh and Atiqul Islam, from their positions.
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