NCP demands reconstitution of Election Commission, calls protest Wednesday

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced a demonstration in front of the Election Commission (EC) headquarters in Agargaon, blaming the commission for the political crisis surrounding the delayed swearing-in of Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

At an emergency press conference on Tuesday night, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain declared that the party would protest at 12pm on Wednesday in front of the EC building.

“We urge the interim government to immediately consider the proposal for a reformed commission, reconstitute the Election Commission, and initiate preparations for local government elections,” Akhtar said.

NCP Convenor Nahid Islam questioned the impartiality of the current electoral commission.

“This commission cannot be trusted to conduct elections. They made a decision regarding the DSCC mayoral office even before receiving an opinion from the law ministry. What guarantee is there that they won't act with bias again in the future?” he asked.

FROM CONTESTED ELECTION TO POLITICAL GRIDLOCK

The last DSCC election took place on Feb 1, 2020, in which Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh defeated BNP’s Ishraque Hossain by a margin of nearly 200,000 votes.

Ishraque is the son of Sadeque Hossain Khoka, former mayor of undivided Dhaka.

Following the change in government, on Mar 27, the Dhaka Election Tribunal invalidated the 2020 result and declared Ishraque the rightful mayor.

The Election Commission gazetted this decision on Apr 27, but Ishraque has yet to take the oath of office.

Since May 14, Ishraque’s supporters have held a continuous sit-in at Nagar Bhaban, effectively paralysing operations at the city corporation’s headquarters. All administrative work has come to a halt, disrupting services for citizens. The office of Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyian, which is also located there, has become inaccessible.

On Tuesday, a makeshift stage was erected at the building’s main entrance, where patriotic songs and the national anthem were being played over loudspeakers.

“We are observing with concern how the illegal 2020 election of Dhaka South has led to a worsening political crisis,” Akhtar said at the press conference. “We hold the Election Commission’s partisan role directly responsible.”

He accused the commission of failing to defend itself in the case titled Ishraque Hossain vs Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh & Others.

“Even though the Election Commission was a respondent in the case, it astonishingly chose not to contest it. As a result, a one-sided verdict was delivered. Worse, the commission did not seek any remedy in a higher court, which suggests it deliberately favoured the plaintiff.”

He continued: “Time and again, we have seen the Election Commission act in ways that align more with the positions of a major political party than with the standards of neutrality expected of it.”

QUESTIONABLE GAZETTING AND LEGAL MANOEUVRES

According to Akhtar, on Aug 19, even before the tribunal had delivered its verdict, the government appointed an administrator to oversee the Dhaka South City Corporation under relevant legal provisions, effectively rendering the entire case moot.

He alleged that although the EC sought the law ministry’s opinion on publishing the gazette after the verdict, it proceeded to publish it hastily and under cover of night, before receiving any formal response.

“This conduct clearly reflects a biased role on the part of the Election Commission,” he asserted.

Amid the continuing protests, Ishraque Hossain formally submitted a letter to the Local Government Division on Saturday, requesting the necessary arrangements be made for his oath-taking as DSCC mayor. He also held a press briefing that evening.

'NO TENSIONS WITH ADVISOR ASIF'

Asked whether he had any personal conflict with the local government advisor, Ishraque clarified: “I have no personal dispute or relationship with the local government advisor or any other advisor.”

On Monday, Advisor Asif Mahmud told reporters at an event in Dhaka that the government had encountered several legal complications in the process of arranging Ishraque’s swearing-in.

“We cannot move forward with a decision unless all legal issues are resolved,” he said.

The NCP’s press conference was held at its temporary office at Rupayan Trade Centre in Banglamotor.

Party leaders Ariful Islam Adib, Tasnim Zara, Nasiruddin Patwari, and Hasnat Abdullah were also present.