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Supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain staged demonstrations on Wednesday reiterating their demand that he be handed the responsibilities of mayor of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) making no further delay.
During the protests, vehicular movement came to a standstill on the roads leading to the Matsya Bhaban, Kakrail Mosque, and the Chief Adviser's official residence 'Jamuna ' causing commuting inconveniences.
Ishraque's supporters from different parts of the capital started gathering in front of Nagar Bhaban in small processions at around 9:30am.
Their demonstrations suspended all administrative activities at Nagar Bhaban for the day.
As a result, activities of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Co-operatives, housed in the same building were also halted.
A group of the protesters marched towards the Matsya Bhaban and staged a sit-in near the High Court at around 10:00 am.
The demonstrators chanted various slogans like "Immediately hand over mayoral responsibilities to Ishraque," "One demand only - resignation of Asif," "Break the dark hands of Asif Bhuiyan," and "No more delays in oath-taking," blaming LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan for the delay in swearing in of Ishraque Hossain as the DSCC mayor.
The supporters said that they will not leave the streets until Ishraque is officially handed the responsibilities of mayor. They were on the spots as of filling this report at 7:30 pm.
Former secretary Moshiur Rahman is leading the ongoing movement being waged by Ishraque Hossain's supporters.
He told the media that Ishraque got huge votes in the 2020 mayoral election but the then Election Commission had declared Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh winner.
He said that now the present EC has cancelled that result following directives of the court and issued gazette notification declaring Ishraque Hossain mayor of the DSCC.
He criticised the local government, rural development and cooperatives ministry for not arranging oath-taking of Ishraque Hossain as the mayor. "For this reason we are on the streets. We are trying to realise our demand," he continued.
Meanwhile, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain urged on Wednesday his supporters not to leave the streets on the issue of his taking mayoral oath. He gave the directive in his verified Facebook post in the afternoon. "No way to leave streets as long as it requires to realise our demand," he said. His supporters took to the streets near Matsya Bhaban, Kakrail intersection and Chief Adviser's official residence Jamuna.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com