Adviser Asif says BNP using force to stage protests by locking Nagar Bhaban

Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan has alleged that the BNP is staging protests and locking the Nagar Bhaban through the use of “muscle power.”

He made the remarks in a Facebook post on Monday, referring to ongoing demonstrations demanding that mayoral responsibilities be transferred to BNP leader Ishraque Hossain at Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

Supporters of Ishraque, under the banner of Dhakabashi (Dhakaites), have been locking the main gate of Nagar Bhaban for six consecutive days as part of their protest.

They allege that it is due to interference by the LOGR adviser that their leader Ishraque is not being administered the oath of office as DNCC mayor, despite a court verdict and a gazette notification issued by the Election Commission.

In his post, Bhuiyan stated that unless certain legal and procedural complexities are addressed, it is not possible to proceed with the oath-taking.

“Without following due process, Dhaka City BNP is locking the main gate of Nagar Bhaban in an attempt to forcefully realise their demand. As a result, the public is suffering, and city corporation activities are being hampered,” he said.

The adviser outlined ten reasons behind the delay in administering the oath. These are listed below:

1. The Election Commission Tribunal delivered its verdict in violation of a High Court ruling that had declared the amended petition illegal.
2. The Election Commission did not participate in the tribunal hearing, resulting in a one-sided judgment. The Commission also did not appeal the verdict.
3. Although the opinion of the Law Ministry was sought, the Election Commission issued the gazette at 10 PM before receiving the ministry’s response and disregarded legal notices from two citizens.
4. The Local Government Division was not made a party to the case, and the verdict does not contain any directive towards it.
5. A writ petition has been filed making the Local Government Division a respondent due to the delay in administering the oath. The matter remains sub judice.
6. In a similar case involving Barisal City Corporation, the tribunal dismissed the petition based on the same High Court ruling. The adviser questioned the tribunal’s contradictory approach.
7. There is ambiguity surrounding the duration of the mayoral term -- how long the mayor would serve, or whether any term remains, is unclear.
8. In a letter, the Election Commission stated that further steps may be taken “if there is no legal complication.” However, several complications remain -- such as the disputed verdict, lack of directives to the Local Government Division, pending legal notices, and an ongoing writ petition.
9. The Law Ministry's opinion has been formally sought to resolve the current complications.
10. Questions regarding the legitimacy of elections held during the Awami League’s tenure, in the context of this oath-taking, have also become relevant. However, if political parties acknowledge those elections as valid, such questions would not arise.

To his post, Adviser Asif also attached a photo, saying, “However, I don’t find any reason behind Ishraque Hossain’s such aggressive and insulting activities against me! None should claim that these activities are being done by ordinary citizens because, according to instructions from various [social media] groups of BNP and its affiliated organisations, as well as intelligence agency information, it is the party's [BNP's]’ own leaders and activists who are carrying out the protest programme."