The High Court has dismissed a writ petition seeking to block BNP leader Engineer Ishraq Hossain from taking oath as the Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir welcomed the verdict, calling it a victory for the people. In his immediate reaction to the media on Thursday (May 22), Fakhrul said the judgment reflects the judiciary’s respect for the law and marks another step forward for democracy. He asserted that during the previous mayoral election, the "fascist" Awami League government forcibly altered the results, but the people of Dhaka and the nation at large had declared Ishraq their rightful mayor. Fakhrul urged the Ministry of Local Government to arrange Ishraq’s oath-taking without delay and to avoid creating further obstacles. He also appealed to party activists to stand down from street protests, emphasizing that the court’s ruling represents public victory and that the government should now act wisely. Fakhrul reiterated that resolving the current political crisis requires a swift announcement of a credible election roadmap. Speaking about ongoing reforms, he noted that issues where political parties have reached consensus should be declared, while unresolved matters should remain part of the evolving political process. Fakhrul is currently under observation at a hospital in Bangkok following successful eye surgery conducted on May 15.