DNCC mayoral by-election

HC order on holding of by-polls today

The High Court (HC) will pass orders on two separate writ petitions seeking a stay on the process for holding the by-election to the mayoral post of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) slated for February 26. The HC bench, comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed, fixed the date yesterday after concluding the hearing on the writ petitions.

Jahangir Alam, chairman of Beraid union parishad, and Ataur Rahman, chairman of Bhatara union parishad, filed the two petitions challenging the legality of the schedule fixed by the Election Commission (EC) for holding the by-election to the DNCC mayoral post.

In his petition, Jahangir Alam said that the EC was yet

to give him the CD containing the voter list, even though the commission had fixed January 18 for the submission of nomination papers. If he does not get the CD, he cannot submit the nomination paper and contest the election, he added.

Ataur Rahman filed a petition challenging the legality of declaring the election schedule by the EC without fulfilling a 75 per cent quorum of ward councillors’ posts in the DNCC. As per the provision, the EC cannot hold a mayoral election without filling up the 75 quorum of the ward councillors’ posts. But a number of ward councillor posts are currently vacant in the DNCC.

Rahman’s counsel said that the EC’s declaration of the election schedule before the filling of the ward councillor posts was illegal.

Advocate Kamrul Haque Siddiqui and Mostafizur Rahman, with the assistance of barrister Ahsan Habib, appeared for the petitioners, while deputy attorney general Moklesur Rahman represented the state. Five officials, including the secretary of the local government, rural development and co-operatives (LGRD) ministry, and EC secretary, have been made respondents in the petition.

The EC fixed January 18 as the last date for the filing of the nomination paper, while scrutiny will be held on January 21 and 22. The closing date for nomination paper withdrawal is January 29.

The EC will arrange polls to the 36 councillor posts and 12 reserved seats in the 36 new wards—18 of the DNCC and 18 of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)— on the same day.

The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant following the death of Annisul Huq on November 30 last year.

DNCC mayoral by-election

HC order on holding of by-polls today

The High Court (HC) will pass orders on two separate writ petitions seeking a stay on the process for holding the by-election to the mayoral post of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) slated for February 26. The HC bench, comprising Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed, fixed the date yesterday after concluding the hearing on the writ petitions. Jahangir Alam, chairman of Beraid union parishad, and Ataur Rahman, chairman of Bhatara union parishad, filed the two petitions challenging the legality of the schedule fixed by the Election Commission (EC) for holding the by-election to the DNCC mayoral post. In his petition, Jahangir Alam said that the EC was yet to give him the CD containing the voter list, even though the commission had fixed January 18 for the submission of nomination papers. If he does not get the CD, he cannot submit the nomination paper and contest the election, he added. Ataur Rahman filed a petition challenging the legality of declaring the election schedule by the EC without fulfilling a 75 per cent quorum of ward councillors posts in the DNCC. As per the provision, the EC cannot hold a mayoral election without filling up the 75 quorum of the ward councillors posts. But a number of ward councillor posts are currently vacant in the DNCC. Rahmans counsel said that the ECs declaration of the election schedule before the filling of the ward councillor posts was illegal. Advocate Kamrul Haque Siddiqui and Mostafizur Rahman, with the assistance of barrister Ahsan Habib, appeared for the petitioners, while deputy attorney general Moklesur Rahman represented the state. Five officials, including the secretary of the local government, rural development and co-operatives (LGRD) ministry, and EC secretary, have been made respondents in the petition. The EC fixed January 18 as the last date for the filing of the nomination paper, while scrutiny will be held on January 21 and 22. The closing date for nomination paper withdrawal is January 29. The EC will arrange polls to the 36 councillor posts and 12 reserved seats in the 36 new wards18 of the DNCC and 18 of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on the same day. The DNCC mayoral post fell vacant following the death of Annisul Huq on November 30 last year.