Chittagong City Corporation election held in January 2021

Awami League’s Rezaul removed from office in August this year

A Correspondent, Ctg:

A Chittagong court has declared BNP mayoral candidate Dr Shahadat Hossain the mayor of the city corporation announcing its verdict in a case challenging the CCC election results due to rigging, ordering the publication of a gazette within the next 10 days.

Election Tribunal and Joint District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Khairul Amin delivered the verdict on Tuesday, confirmed Arshad Hossain Asad, the legal counsel for the plaintiff.

Dr Shahadat Hossain had filed the case seeking the cancellation of the CCC election results, which declared Awami League candidate Rezaul Karim Chowdhury as the winner.

Photo: Collected

Rezaul was elected mayor in the CCC election that took place on January 27, 2021.

However, Shahadat, former president of the BNP’s Chittagong metropolitan unit, alleged widespread electoral fraud and filed a case a few days later on February 24, accusing the Election Commission, Rezaul and several others of rigging the election.

Amid the legal challenge, Rezaul assumed the post of mayor after the election.

On August 19 this year, the local government ministry removed him from office following the ouster of the Awami League on August 5.

According to the case documents, CCC officials started coordinating with Rezaul after he received the Awami League’s nomination, suggesting that the election was merely a formality. On the Election Day, only 4% to 6% of votes were counted by noon, though official figures claim 22% of votes were cast.

Rezaul Karim was declared the winner with 369,248 votes, while his closest rival, Shahadat, secured 52,489 votes.