As several political parties, including the BNP, remain busy preparing for the forthcoming national elections, a controversy has erupted over the mayoral position of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
BNP leader Ishraque Hossain is seeking to assume office as mayor following a court order. He has declared himself mayor without taking the official oath.
This claim has been challenged by Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, a local government adviser who emerged from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement which eventually led to the ouster of the Awami League regime.
The election tribunal named Ishraque as the rightful mayor, overturning the 2020 DSCC election results that had declared ruling party candidate Fazle Noor Taposh the winner. Although Ishraque has yet to be sworn in, he maintains he is legally entitled to the position.
However, Asif argues that the window for swearing-in has closed. He contends that, with the DSCC term expired and the deadline outlined in the Election Commission’s gazette notification having passed, Ishraque’s claim no longer holds legal ground.
This issue became a central topic of discussion during the BNP Standing Committee meeting held on Monday.
Several senior leaders reportedly expressed the view that Ishraque should now step back from public activism on the matter to avoid further complications.
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said, “Ishraque Hossain has received a verdict from the highest court, and the Election Commission has issued a gazette accordingly.”
“The Ministry of Local Government should have facilitated his swearing-in in compliance with the court’s directive. This failure represents a breach of legal protocol and a disregard for the judiciary. We demand the implementation of the court’s ruling.”
Speaking to Times of Bangladesh, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, also a Standing Committee member, said the issue was discussed among a range of current political topics.
Another Standing Committee member, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, said any formal party stance regarding Ishraque would be communicated in due course.
Senior BNP leader Selima Rahman also confirmed that the matter was raised during the session.
Meanwhile, adviser Asif categorically rejected Ishraque’s claim.
“There is no remaining legal avenue for Ishraque Hossain to be sworn in as mayor. The DSCC’s tenure has concluded, and the deadline for oath-taking stipulated in the Election Commission’s gazette has expired,” he said.
He further alleged that Ishraque’s ongoing demonstrations are disrupting essential municipal operations. “Currently, 45% of DSCC’s civic services have been suspended due to the unrest, and there is growing concern that a complete breakdown of services may follow,” Asif warned.
He also accused Ishraque of acting out of political motives and called on the BNP leadership to intervene.
“To resolve this issue, BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman should engage in discussions with the party’s chief adviser. We hope to maintain the spirit of political goodwill that has recently been nurtured,” he added.
In a strong rebuttal, Ishraque dismissed Asif’s statements as false and politically motivated. He accused certain media outlets and social media platforms of misrepresenting the movement and misleading the public.
“The adviser repeatedly claims there is a legal complication or that this is a sub judice matter. But the highest court in the country has already resolved it,” said Ishraque. “If he still maintains there is a legal hurdle, then I must say that no one has ever seen a more ignorant adviser in the history of Bangladesh.”
The legal and political saga began with a ruling on March 27 by Dhaka’s First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal Judge Md Nurul Islam.
The court overturned the 2020 DSCC election result and declared Ishraque as the duly elected mayor. It also ordered the Election Commission to publish a gazette within ten days, which was subsequently issued on 27 April.