What Led to the Bangladesh Court's Decision for Ishraque Hossain as Dhaka South Mayor?

Dhaka, May 22 (NationPress) A court in Bangladesh on Thursday rejected a writ petition aimed at halting the Election Tribunal's ruling that declared Ishraque Hossain as the Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

The bench, which included Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury, issued the decision after reviewing the writ submitted by Supreme Court lawyer Md Mamunur Rashid on May 13, according to local news sources.

Supporters from the BNP party, who had been staging a sit-in protest at the Kakrail intersection in Dhaka, expressed their joy outside the state guesthouse 'Jamuna', the official residence of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, calling for Ishraque's swearing-in as the new Mayor of DSCC.

Celebrations erupted among Ishraque's backers after the favorable ruling, as reported by the Bangladeshi daily The Dhaka Tribune.

Despite inclement weather, they raised slogans in support of Ishraque, while also voicing their discontent against Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.

For over a week, the supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain had been rallying in Dhaka to assert their demand, according to local media.

On the evening prior, thousands of BNP leaders and activists, led by Ishraque, initiated their sit-in on the roadway near Yunus's official residence, significantly disrupting traffic at the Matsya Bhaban intersection, Kakrail, and Circuit House Road, effectively isolating the area.

The protests persisted into Thursday morning, with BNP leaders and activists maintaining their presence in front of the mosque and the State Guest House Jamuna, insisting that Ishraque be allowed to take the oath.

Law enforcement agencies remained vigilant, deploying hundreds of personnel around the Jamuna residence to ensure safety, as reported by local news.

In the meantime, Ishraque stated that he and his supporters would continue their demonstrations until Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam resigned from their respective positions.

Previously, in March, the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal named Ishraque, a member of the BNP Foreign Affairs Committee, as the Mayor of DSCC.

Following the ruling, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification on April 27, officially acknowledging him as Mayor.

Subsequently, a writ petition was filed in the High Court seeking to suspend the Election Tribunal's ruling that appointed Ishraque as Mayor and instructed the authorities not to administer the oath. However, the High Court dismissed the petition.