For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
After a 43-day stalemate, the administrator’s office at Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has reopened, allowing Md Shahjahan Mia to resume his duties at Nagar Bhaban.
On Thursday around 1pm, the lock on the administrator’s office was removed, according to a bdnews24.com reports.
“Today, along with BNP leaders and activists, we have unlocked the administrator’s office. He is back at work,” Nagar Bhaban Employees’ Unity Council Treasurer Abdul Kaiyum said.
Supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain locked the office on May 14 as part of a movement demanding his formal swearing-in as mayor.
The protest escalated that day when they padlocked different DSCC offices, effectively halting administrative functions.
Earlier, on Sunday, the protesters relaxed their programme and unlocked several offices in Nagar Bhaban, allowing the DSCC’s chief executive officer to return to work, but the administrator’s and some engineering officials’ offices remained sealed until Thursday.
Ishraque, son of former mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, had lost the Feb 1, 2020, DSCC election to Awami League’s Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh by a margin of nearly 200,000 votes.
However, following the government changeover, the Election Tribunal on Mar 27 nullified that result and declared Ishraque the winner.
Despite the ruling, Ishraque was not sworn in, and continued protests failed to secure the oath. On Jun 3, he announced he would swear himself in if the government did not.
Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, he declared a pause in the siege and sit-in at Nagar Bhaban. After the holiday, though he did not proceed with a self-oath, he held a meeting with city employees under a banner referring to him as “Honourable Mayor”.
On Jun 18, Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain clarified that Ishraque was no longer eligible to be sworn in as his term had effectively expired.