United News of Bangladesh

The Election Commission has already concluded its responsibility over Dhaka South City Corporation’s mayoral issue with the publication of the official gazette that declared BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as the city’s mayor, said an EC member on Wednesday. “Since the gazette has not been set aside (by court) rather it remains effective, we think the Election Commission’s tasks were completed (in this regard),” Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah told reporters following a meeting of the Election Commission. Noting that the High Court’s and the Appellate Division’s observations were discussed elaborately in the meeting, he said the Appellate Division further established the independence of the Election Commission and its supremacy on election matters. Citing two DLR references, Sanaullah said the election process starts with the notification that means announcement of schedule and concludes with the publication of gazette. “So, we think the Election Commission has completed its responsibility.” On April 27, the EC published an official gazette declaring Ishraque Hossain as the DSCC mayor in line with a court ruling more than five years after the election. Over 600 applications seeking 75 constituencies to be re-demarcated: Noting that the meeting also discussed the delimitation of constituencies, the Election Commissioner said a total of 607 applications were submitted seeking the demarcation of 75 out of 300 constituencies. Jamaat to regain registration with ‘Scales’ symbol: EC Commissioner He said the EC has already reviewed the applications. The issue will be discussed in detail after the Eid-ul-Azha, he added. Replying to a question, Sanaullah said they will consider geographical location, integrity of the administrative unit, the number of population and voters during the delimitation of the constituencies. Earlier, on March 27, Dhaka's first joint district and election tribunal judge, Md Nurul Islam, declared Ishraq Hossain as the rightful mayor, annulling the results of the 2020 Dhaka South City Corporation election that had declared Fazle Noor Taposh as the winner. The government’s previous gazette, which declared Taposh—elected with the boat symbol in that election—as mayor, was also cancelled. The Dhaka North and South City Corporation elections took place on February 1, 2020. In the North, Awami League candidate Atiqul Islam was elected mayor, while in the South, Fazle Noor Taposh emerged victorious. Taposh received 4.25 lakh votes in the race for Dhaka South mayor, while his closest rival, BNP’s Ishraque Hossain, secured 236,000 votes. Ishraque filed a case on March 3, 2020, challenging the election results, alleging widespread irregularities and corruption during the voting. After the fall of the Awami League government in August, 2024, the positions of the mayors for both Dhaka city corporations were declared vacant, along with those of all city corporation mayors across the country. On May 22 last, The High Court dismissed a writ petition that sought a directive against administering the oath of office to Ishraque Hossain as DSCC mayor, clearing the way for his swearing-in. On May 29 last the Appellate Division in an observation said the Election Commission (EC) will decide whether BNP leader Ishraque Hossain will be sworn in as the DSCC Mayor or not.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said people have achieved a victory through the High Court’s verdict that cleared the way for Ishraque Hossain to take oath as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). “The High Court has delivered the kind of verdict that demonstrates respect for the law. This is undoubtedly a victory for people and democracy,” he told UNB over the phone from Thailand. The BNP leader alleged that the Awami League rigged the DSCC mayoral election and snatched the results by force. “At that time, the residents of Dhaka, along with the entire nation, had declared Ishraque Hossain as their mayor.”  Read public pulse, accelerate democratic transition: Moyeen Khan to govt He called upon the Local Government Ministry to take immediate steps to arrange Ishraque’s swearing-in ceremony. “I hope the ministry will act without creating further complications and promptly take steps for Ishraque Hossain’s oath-taking to help ease the situation,” Fakhrul said. Earlier in the day, the High Court dismissed a writ petition that sought a directive against administering the oath of office to BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as the mayor of DSCC, clearing the way for his swearing-in. Fakhrul called upon BNP leaders, activists and supporters to step off the streets now following the court verdict. Since the matter has now been resolved in court and the people have won, he said there is no longer any need to continue blocking roads. “We hope the government will act sensibly and ensure Ishraque’s swearing-in. Our supporters should now clear the roads for the sake of public relief,” Fakhrul said. No Alternative to Election Roadmap Fakhrul urged the government to come up with a specific election roadmap promptly to overcome the political crisis. BNP’s 8-day programme marking Zia’s death anniversary “We reiterate that the only way to resolve the current political crisis is to announce a clear roadmap for the national election very soon. There is no use discussing anything else,” he said. Stating that reforms are part of a continuous process, the BNP leader said the proposals agreed upon by political parties within the framework of the National Consensus Commission should be formally announced and a charter should be prepared. “So, doing any excesses or causing delays over the reforms will only complicate the situation. That is why the people expect that a roadmap will be announced very soon, elections will be arranged, and the ongoing reform proposals on which there is consensus will be implemented,” he observed. The reform proposals on which there is no consensus, Fakhrul said, will be kept as an ongoing process within the charter. Mirza Fakhrul travelled to Bangkok on May 14 for eye surgery. A successful operation on his left eye was performed the following day at Rutnin Eye Hospital. Since then, he has remained under close observation by doctors.

The High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition that sought a directive against administering the oath of office to BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), clearing the way for his swearing-in. A bench comprising Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury passed the order, rejecting the petition filed earlier this month. On May 14, Dhaka South resident Md Mamunur Rashid filed the writ petition seeking a stay on Ishraque’s swearing-in and disciplinary action against the judge who declared him mayor. The petition also challenged the validity of the lower court’s verdict, which overturned the result of the 2020 DSCC polls. The same High Court bench had fixed May 22 for delivering its order on the matter after hearing arguments on May 21. Advocate Kazi Akbar Ali represented the petitioner during the hearing, while Ishraque was represented by his legal team, who welcomed the decision and said there was now no legal barrier to his taking oath as DSCC mayor. The development comes nearly two months after a lower court annulled the 2020 DSCC election result and declared Ishraque Hossain, the BNP-nominated candidate, as the rightful mayor.  Ishraque’s supporters stage sit-in near Matsya Bhaban On February 1, 2020, Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh was declared the winner of the DSCC election, defeating Ishraque by a margin of nearly 200,000 votes. However, on 27 March 2024, Judge Md Nurul Islam of the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal nullified that result and declared Ishraque the victor. Following the verdict, the constitutional body sought legal advice from the Ministry of Law on 22 April regarding publication of the gazette. Subsequently, on 27 April, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification announcing Ishraque Hossain as the new mayor of DSCC.  Petition against gazette on Ishraque : Judgment deferred to Thursday Meanwhile, Ishraque’s supporters have staged demonstrations in front of Nagar Bhaban and Matsya Bhaban in recent weeks, demanding immediate assumption of office by the newly declared mayor.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has sent a legal notice to The Daily Star, seeking Tk 100 crore, for publishing a “defamatory” article about cutting down trees in the Dhanmondi area of the capital. The mayor’s lawyer Barrister Mejbahur Rahman briefed reporters on Wednesday (June 7, 2023). The legal notice was sent to The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, Executive Editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque, and writer Naziba Basher on June 5. Also read: DSCC mayor Taposh sued for remark on ex-chief justice   They have been asked to remove the relevant content online within 24 hours of receiving the notice and take necessary action within seven days. Lawyer Mejbahur Rahman said that a “column” titled “Cutting trees to make way for air” was published in The Daily Star newspaper on May 13. “In the column, the name of Dhaka South City Corporation was distorted to make Dhoka South Town Corporation,” he said while speaking to reporters at the Supreme Court premises. Also read: June 14 set for hearing on contempt of court case against DSCC Mayor Taposh Besides, the name of Mayor Taposh has also been distorted, he said. Lawyer Mejbahur Rahman said the DSCC Mayor has directed him to take legal action after seeing the report.  “In the notice, we asked for two things – one is to remove the text in the online version and they must apologise unconditionally and will have to pay Tk 100 crore as compensation,” he said. “Seven days have been given to them. If they do not take any action by this time, the next decision will be taken at the behest of Mayor Taposh.” Also read: Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman gets bail in DSA case In the legal notice, The Daily Star was asked to pay the money within seven days of the date of receipt of the legal notice served “for creating and publishing defamatory imputation in your national daily, in online publication and on social media and network with criminal intention to insult, humiliate and persecute our client, thus intentionally harming hard earned reputation of my client, his family and his institution.” In a statement, published on The Daily Star’s website, the editor and publisher wrote: “We want to state that we have indeed received the said legal notice dated June 5, 2023, from the Lex Counsel late in the afternoon of June 6, 2023, and it allows us only 2 days to respond. We will publish our response within that time.” Also read: Prothom Alo reporter Shams gets bail in another DSA case “We, however, want to point out that our piece was termed a ‘report’ or a ‘column’ at the press briefing. This is factually incorrect. It was a satirical piece, which is a globally accepted and common practice in journalism, on an issue of urgent public concern, and that too was published in our designated weekly satirical page titled ‘Satireday,’' the statement added.

Parking of inter-district buses outside the terminals will not be allowed in Dhaka city from April 1, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Tuesday. “Except Syedabad, Mohakhali and Gabtoli bus terminals, no counters of inter-district buses will be allowed in Dhaka city from April 1. Already the renovation work of Syedabad Bus Terminal is underway while initiatives will be taken to renovate the two other terminals in the capital,” he said. The DSCC mayor said these while talking to reporters after attending the 25th meeting of Bus Route Rationalization Committee at Nagar Bhaban. Read: Gymnasium to be built in every ward: DSCC Mayor Taposh “We often see that there are many bus counters at Zigatola, Kalabagan, Khilgaon and others part of the city which create traffic congestion and other problems. Now we are getting strict and that’s why we have taken the decision. I hope the public transport management will be more disciplined through the activities,” he said.  All buses will have to use terminals from April, he added. He also urged the bus owners to park their buses inside terminals and no one will be allowed to keep their buses on roads. Meanwhile, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, who was present at the meeting, said “We are working to bring discipline on the roads of Dhaka through Bus Route Rationalisation. We often see that buses are kept on roads outside the terminals which create chaos on road.” The DNCC mayor also said that only buses of ‘Nagar Paribahan’ will be allowed on No 21, 22 and 26 routes and a drive will be conducted from December 20 to January 5 to ensure it. Read: DSCC to launch special five-day anti-dengue drive Sunday in five wards The human haulers like four wheeled leguna will also not be allowed on the three routes, said Atiqul. Meanwhile, bus service on new No 23 route will be launched on January 31. Buses from Ghatarchar-Washpur-Basila-Mohammadpur-Japan Garden City-Shyamoli-College Gate- Asad Gate-Kalabagan- Science Lab-Shahbag-Matshya Bhaban-Press Club-Gulistan (zero point-Dainik Bangla- Rajarbagh- Kamalapur- Dhalpur- Jatrabari-Shanir Akhra-Rayerbagh Matuile-Sighboard-Chittagong road. Two others new routes- No 24 and 25- will be launched in the April next. Buses of No 24 route will ply on Ghatarchar-Basila-Mohammadpur Bus Stand-Shishumela-Agargaon-Mirpur-10-Kalsi flyover via Airport-Jashimuddin Abdullahpur while no 25 route will marked from Ghatarchar-Basila-Mohammadpur Bus Stand-Asadgate-Manik Mia Avenue via Khamarbari-Bijoy Sarani via Jahangir Gate-Shahin School-Mohakhali-Kakoli-Banani Flyover via Regency-Airport-Jashimuddin-Abdullahpur.  

The order to shutter hospital pharmacies by 2am may be reviewed and reconsidered following the requirements of the hospital authorities, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Wednesday. DSCC authorities earlier ordered the hospital pharmacies to shut by 2 am considering the emergencies at the hospitals, which is rational, he told the reporters after inaugurating the city's Azimpur Foot over Bridge. The move came as part of government’s austerity measures that include rationing of electricity amid fuel crisis. However, the DSCC will consider extending the closing time of the hospital pharmacies or keeping those open for 24 hours a day following a written request from the busiest hospitals including Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said the mayor. “This will be fixed as per the necessities of those hospitals and the areas,” he added. “But no one can proceed (conduct activities) beyond the schedule in any manner. Everyone has to follow the schedule." Read: Pharmacies in Dhaka to remain open all day: Health Minister Regarding the monitoring of the shops’ scheduled closure, Taposh said no law or policy can be strictly implemented or enforced without public involvement. So this schedule will not be difficult to implement as the public accepted this spontaneously, he added. On August 22, DSCC issued a notice allowing standalone pharmacies to remain open till 12am and those at hospitals till 2am to ration electricity. Besides, the corporation asked malls, shops, kitchen markets and other business outlets in its areas to remain open till 8pm and restaurants and hotels till 10 pm. This order will be effective September 1. On August 25, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said that the pharmacies in Dhaka will remain open 24 hours a day. “We do not give any instructions regarding the closure of the pharmacies by midnight. We are in talks with the city corporations on this. Anyway, pharmacies can remain open for 24 hours,” he added.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh has said bus service on three more routes under the bus route rationalization programme will be launched on September 1. Taposh said this after visiting the renovation and development works of Sayedabad Bus Terminal Wednesday morning. “We’ve taken up a Tk 30 crore project to develop the Sayedabad Bus Terminal so that the bus route rationalization programme can gain pace. The bus terminal’s infrastructures were in a dilapidated condition as no renovation work was done since the terminal’s construction. We hope that the modernization programme of the terminal will be completed within March next year,” said Taposh. The Mayor added that the Sayedabad Bus Terminal is being transformed into an efficient, modern, and automated terminal to speed up the bus route rationalization programme and bring the city’s public transport sector under discipline. “We’re building bus parking space, rest house for transport workers and washrooms inside the terminal compound. We’re developing the terminal in a way so that people can avail services from inside the terminal,” added the Mayor. Read: DSCC working to improve Dhaka’s place in liveability index: Taposh Replying to a question, Taposh said that two new inter-district bus terminals will be built in Kachpur and Keraniganj. “Land acquisition for building the two bus terminals is ongoing. It’ll take three to four years to build the terminals. We’re renovating the existing bus terminals so that buses can operate in a systematic way,” said Taposh. Later, Taposh released 300kg spawns of various fish in the Dhanmondi Lake commemorating National Fisheries Week-2022.   Farid Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DSCC, Kh Mahbubul Haque, Director General (DG) of Fisheries Department, Saleh Ahmed, Chief Engineer of DSCC and Moshiur Rahman, Additional Secretary of Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, among others, were present at the programme. 

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh have been given the status of minister. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the new status of the two mayors of Dhaka, said a handout on Monday. Besides, the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy and Chattogram City Corporation Mayor (CCC) Rezaul Karim Chowdhury were given the status of state minister. Also read: Ex-Barishal Mayor Kamal dies The authorities concerned have been asked to issue a gazette notification in this regard. Also read: DNCC Mayor wants to get rid of electric rickshaws

Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah was the people’s advocate, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Monday. He was the pioneer of the country’s law field, Taposh said after attending Fazle Rabbi’s Namaz-e-Janaza at the National Eidgah premises this morning, according to a DSCC press release. “It is difficult to find people-friendly lawyers and politicians like Fazle Rabbi. No one uttered a single word against him during his long career as lawyer.” “And so he became a seven times lawmaker from Gaibandha-5,” he added. Expressing sorrow at the death of Fazle Rabbi, the mayor also prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. The mortal remains of Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah arrived in Dhaka on Monday. Read: Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi laid to rest in Gaibandha The Deputy Speaker will be buried beside his two sons’ graves at the family graveyard in his village following a guard of honour by the government around 5pm, according to the Parliament Secretariat. Advocate Fazle Rabbi breathed his last on July 22 at 3.55pm (NY Time) at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York. He was 76.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Fazle Nur Taposh has directed the officials concerned to evict illegal establishments from Buriganga Old Channel in the capital. He gave the instruction during a visit to Kalunagar Sluicegate and adjoining areas of Buriganga Old Channel in the city Wednesday noon. During the inspection, he asked the officials concerned to evict parts of a 10-storey building and other multi-storey buildings, walls and installations on the canal. Read: Re-excavation work of old Buriganga channel likely to start this month: Taposh Regarding the shear wall of a newly constructed 10-storey building in the canal, Taposh said, "Shear wall has been built in the canal. There will be no shear wall in the canal.” He also ordered them to demolish the wall immediately. Taposh paid a surprise visit to witness the demarcation activities conducted by DSCC, Water Development Board and Dhaka District Administration to restore the Buriganga Old Channel.