The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives on Tuesday said that it had been awaiting a court order regarding the swearing-in of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Ishraque Hossain as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation.
鈥楾oday, the law wing of the Local Government Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat informed that, following the High Court鈥檚 dismissal of the writ petition regarding Ishraque鈥檚 swearing-in as mayor on May 22, the LGD took overall preparations for the process,鈥� read a press release issued by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives on Tuesday.
On May 25 Ishraque himself filed a writ petition through his lawyer with the High Court seeking to take oath as mayor and on May 26 a leave-to-appeal petition was filed with the Appellate Division on behalf of a citizen against the High Court order of dismissal, it said.
鈥楢s a result, the matter is now pending in the highest court. So, the LGD is waiting for the court鈥檚 decision about Ishraque鈥檚 oath-taking,鈥� it added.
Earlier, Ishraque on Monday issued a legal notice to the Local Government Division secretary demanding the administering of his oath as the DSCC mayor within 24 hours or face legal consequences, including possible contempt of court proceedings.
The legal notice, issued by lawyer AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, accused the government of ignoring the High Court鈥檚 May 22 decision that dismissed a writ petition challenging the lower court鈥檚 March 27 order and a subsequent gazette notification declaring him the elected mayor on April 27.
The lower court鈥檚 March 27 order directed the Election Commission to publish a gazette naming Ishraque the mayor, a step that was fulfilled on April 27.
As per law, the Local Government Division is obliged to administer the oath within 30 days of gazette notification. Yet, the delay continues, drawing sharp criticism from protesters.
Ishraque鈥檚 supporters continued their protest at Nagar Bhaban on Monday by locking its gates and the gates of all zonal officers for the 10th consecutive day since May 15, and they warned that they would take strict measures if his oath is not administered within the next 24 hours.
As a result, essential public services in DSCC remained suspended, plunging thousands of citizens into suffering.
