Ishraque says he will oversee DSCC operations as protests over mayoral oath drag on

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has announced that he will oversee and supervise the operations of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) amid continuing protests demanding his swearing-in as mayor.

Although he had previously indicated that he would assume office after being sworn in, Ishraque is now taking steps to carry out mayoral duties despite not having formally taken office, bdnews24.com reports. 

On Sunday, supporters of Ishraque and DSCC employee unions resumed their sit-in at Nagar Bhaban, the DSCC headquarters, after the Eid holidays, demanding that he be handed over mayoral responsibilities.

Ishraque himself joined the protest and announced the continuation of the movement.

After addressing his supporters, Ishraque held a meeting with a small group of DSCC officials and employees on the ground floor of Nagar Bhaban around 12pm.

He had entered the Nagar Bhaban grounds at 11am and reiterated his call to continue the protest.

“I call on the government to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. That would end the current deadlock. Until the issue is resolved, this movement will continue,” said Ishraque.

“Our movement will carry on. The local government advisor has violated the Constitution. There is no turning back from this struggle. I urge the chief advisor to directly oversee this issue. We respect the law. We believe in a lawful and democratic system. At this stage, we cannot retreat from our position. Please accept the court's verdict as the will of the people.”

He continued, “If we back down now, it will betray the people’s expectations. I urge the government to settle this matter immediately. Otherwise, the crisis at Dhaka South City Corporation will persist."

All essential services of the DSCC, including birth registration, will remain available, however, officials involved in development work will not be allowed to enter their offices, according to Ishraque.

“The main gate will remain locked to symbolise the movement. But public services will be supervised by us.”

“I am not forcing anything. I am the legitimate mayor, elected constitutionally and by the people’s vote. If anything, it is the government that is now in violation of the law and the Constitution. They must act quickly to resolve this.”

The sit-in will now continue without interruption, according to Ishraque.

However, he did not clarify how DSCC operations would continue while the main building remains locked.

Meanwhile, the protesters chanted slogans in support of Ishraque, calling for him to be sworn in as mayor immediately.

Due to the protests, all public services at the DSCC had been halted from May 15 to Jun 3 before the Eid break. As the holiday ends, Ishraque’s supporters have resumed the movement.

The most recent DSCC election was held on February 1, 2020.

Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh defeated BNP’s Ishraque, son of former Dhaka mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, by nearly 200,000 votes in the polls.

Following the change in government, the Dhaka Election Tribunal on Mar 27 annulled the 2020 results and declared Ishraque the rightful mayor.

The EC subsequently published a gazette notification on Apr 27, formally recognising him as DSCC mayor.

However, on May 14, a resident of Dhaka South and Supreme Court lawyer Md Mamunur Rashid filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking to halt Ishraque’s swearing-in.

In response, Ishraque’s supporters began protesting the same day, demanding that he be sworn in. Their demonstrations brought administrative operations at Nagar Bhaban to a virtual standstill.

Citing legal complexities, the Local Government Division held back on arranging the swearing-in until the matter was resolved in the judiciary.