Staff Reporter:
BNP leader Ishraque Hossain on Thursday suspended the ongoing protests over his mayoral oath and resignation of two student advisers in the interim government for the next 48 hours.
He made the announcement while addressing the party leaders and activists at the Kakrail intersection in Dhaka this afternoon.
The announcement came hours after he urged protesters not to leave the streets even after the High Court ruled in favour of him paving the way for taking oath as the Dhaka South City Corporation mayor, intensifying their movement until the two student representatives in the government resign.
“Today, the rule of law has triumphed through the court’s verdict. Therefore, the movement has been suspended for the time being. We will besiege Jamuna [the residence of the chief adviser] again if the court’s verdict is not implemented immediately,” Ishraque said.
“We will remain determined in our demand for the resignation of the two student advisers of the current government. We will observe the government’s actions for 24 to 48 hours. If the two advisers do not resign within the timeframe, we will take to the streets again.”
Apologising for the suffering caused by the movement, Ishraque said, “We apologise for the suffering caused by our programmes. But one day the people will understand the reason. Our movement is not over yet.”
He gave BNP grassroots leaders and activists as well as residents of Dhaka full credit for the victory. “Dhaka dwellers have achieved their rights. Today, it’s not just me who has become mayor – all of you have become mayors. This victory belongs to all of you.”
The High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition that challenged the Election Commission’s declaration of Ishraque Hossain as the Dhaka South mayor.
The bench of Justice Akram Chowdhury and Justice Debashish Rai Chowdhury delivered the verdict, allowing Ishraque to take the oath as mayor, his lawyers said.
BNP leaders and activists have been demonstrating in the capital for over a week demanding the government arrange the oath-taking ceremony to appoint Ishraque as the DSCC mayor.
The DSCC election was held on 1 February 2020. As per the official result, Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh defeated his nearest rival Ishraque Hossain by a margin of nearly two lakh votes.
On March 27 this year, an Election Tribunal of Dhaka overturned the result and declared Ishraque, son of the last mayor of undivided Dhaka Sadeque Hossain Khoka, the mayor.
On 27 April, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification declaring Ishraque as the mayor of DSCC.
DSCC resident Mamunur Rashid on 14 May submitted the writ petition to the High Court challenging the legality of the tribunal’s verdict and EC’s gazette notification.
