GCC polls: Jahangir files writ to get back candidacy

Suspended Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) mayor Jahangir Alam has filed a writ petition with the High Court (HC) challenging the legality of the Election Commission’s decision that cancelled his nomination papers for the mayoral post in the upcoming GCC election.

The writ was filed with the concerned department of the HC on Sunday.

Earlier on April 30, Gazipur Returning Officer Faridul Islam scrutinized and rejected Jahangir’s nomination papers over allegations of loan default. Later, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Md Sabirul Islam rejected Jahangir’s appeal against the decision on Thursday.

However, Jahangir’s mother Zayeda Khatun’s nomination was declared valid, she remains in the electoral race for the mayoral post.

Read more: Gazipur city polls: Jahangir's nomination canceled

Jahangir was elected mayor of GCC as the candidate of the Awami League (AL) in 2018.

On 19 November, 2021, the AL expelled its Gazipur city unit general secretary and GCC mayor Jahangir from his position in the party for his derogatory remarks on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

On 25 November, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Co-operatives suspended Jahangir from his mayoral post of GCC.

In January this year, Jahangir apologised to the AL president in writing. He was pardoned by the ruling party on January 21 on the condition that any further violation of organisation's rules by him would be deemed unforgivable.