DE News Desk :
The National Citizen Party (NCP) has called for the immediate reconstitution of the Election Commission (EC), announcing a protest demonstration in front of the EC headquarters in Agargaon at 12 PM on Wednesday. The party accuses the commission of deepening the political crisis over the delayed swearing-in of Ishraque Hossain as Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
At an emergency press briefing Tuesday night, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain criticised the EC’s handling of the matter and urged the interim government to initiate electoral reforms and prepare for upcoming local polls. “The current Election Commission lacks credibility and has failed to act impartially,” he said.
NCP Convenor Nahid Islam echoed the concerns, accusing the commission of acting prematurely and without legal consultation in the DSCC matter. “They gazetted the verdict before even receiving the law ministry’s opinion. How can such a body be trusted to oversee elections?” he asked.
Political Crisis Deepens Over DSCC Mayoral Dispute
The controversy stems from the February 2020 DSCC election, in which Awami League’s Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh defeated BNP-backed candidate Ishraque Hossain. However, on March 27 this year, the Dhaka Election Tribunal invalidated the result and declared Ishraque the rightful mayor.
Although the EC gazetted the tribunal’s decision on April 27, Ishraque has yet to be sworn in. His supporters have staged a sit-in at Nagar Bhaban since May 14, effectively shutting down administrative activities at the DSCC headquarters. The office of Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyian has also become inaccessible.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Akhtar alleged that the EC failed to defend itself in court and refrained from appealing the tribunal’s ruling—moves the NCP views as deliberate and politically motivated. “The commission’s silence in court and its failure to seek redress in higher courts clearly indicate bias,” he said.
He further criticized the EC for allegedly rushing the gazette’s publication before receiving a formal opinion from the law ministry, calling it “a night-time maneuver to project neutrality while serving partisan interests.”
Legal Limbo, Public Discontent
The government had appointed an administrator for Dhaka South on August 19, before the tribunal ruling, casting further doubt over the legal status of the mayoral office. On Saturday, Ishraque formally requested the Local Government Division to arrange his oath-taking, though officials have cited ongoing legal complexities.
Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud, speaking to reporters on Monday, said: “We cannot proceed until all legal matters are resolved.”
At the NCP briefing, senior party leaders including Ariful Islam Adib, Tasnim Zara, Nasiruddin Patwari, and Hasnat Abdullah were also present. The event was held at the party’s temporary office in Banglamotor.