No legal bar in administering oath to Ishraque: lawyer

Senior Advocate AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, who defended the case for Ishraque Hossain at the High Court (HC) in the hearing on a writ petition that challenged a court order that declared him as DSCC 
mayor, said now there is no legal bar in the administering oath to the BNP leader.

Barrister Khokon said this while giving his reaction to the High Court order that summarily rejected the plea that challenged the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal's verdict, declaring BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

"Dilly dallying in administering the oath to Ishraque will be tantamount to contempt of court," he said.

Earlier in the day, the High Court division bench of Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury summarily rejected the writ petition with observation and direction.

Supreme Court lawyer and DSCC resident Md Mamunur Rashid filed the writ petition, which was moved by Advocate Mohammad Hossain. Senior jurists AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Barrister Kaiser Kamal argued for Ishraque while Deputy Attorney General Mahfuzur Rahman Milon stood for the state.

Earlier on March 27, Judge Md Nurul Islam of Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal cancelled the results of the 2020 DSCC election and announced BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as DSCC mayor.

The Election Commission (EC) on April 27 issued the gazette notification, declaring the BNP leader as mayor.