For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain have announced plans to “blockade” the Nagar Bhaban on Monday to press home their demand that he be handed the mayoral duties at the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
The announcement was made on Sunday by former senior secretary Md Mashiur Rahman during an ongoing sit-in outside Nagar Bhaban, reports bdnews24.com.
With continuous sit-ins since Wednesday, operations at Nagar Bhaban have already come to a standstill.
The fourth straight day of protests began at 9am on Sunday, with demonstrators occupying the main gate and the road surrounding Nagar Bhaban. Protesters chanted slogans demanding that Ishraque be installed as mayor and voiced anger at Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.
Around 12pm, a protest march set off from Nagar Bhaban towards the Secretariat via Gulistan, the National Press Club, and Shikkha Bhaban before returning to Nagar Bhaban.
Ishraque’s supporters not only blocked the main entrance but also padlocked several internal gates, bringing all activities at the office to a halt.
Alongside demands for Ishraque to be given mayoral duties, they chanted slogans against Advisor Asif Mahmud.
Jubo Dal activist Mohiuddin Ahmed, who came to attend the protest from Gendaria, said: “The government is making various excuses to prevent Ishraque Hossain from taking over as mayor and Advisor Asif is leading that charge. We will continue to protest until our demands are met.”
Sarwar Alam, a protester from Sutrapur, said: “Our mayor, engineer Ishraque, was elected by the people. We want to see him assume his responsibilities without delay. How much longer do we have to wait even after the court’s verdict? Why is he still being held back?
“We want to ask the government: why hasn’t he been sworn in yet? Until the oath is administered, we will not leave the streets. If there’s further delay, we’ll be forced to announce even larger programmes.”
On Saturday, the protesters marched towards the Secretariat in a renewed push for Ishraque’s installation as DSCC mayor. Following the demonstration, they declared Advisor Asif Mahmud “persona non grata”.
Since a fire incident in December disrupted operations at the Secretariat, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives has been working out of the DSCC building.
Ishraque wrote to the Local Government Division on Saturday, requesting the necessary steps be taken for his swearing-in as mayor. He later held a press conference in the evening.
When asked by a journalist whether he had any personal issue with the local government advisor, Ishraque replied: “I have no personal conflict or personal relationship with the local government advisor or any other advisor.”
The last DSCC election was held on Feb 1, 2020. Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh defeated BNP’s Ishraque by a margin of nearly 200,000 votes.
Following the change in government after last year’s mass uprising, Dhaka’s First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal Judge Md Nurul Islam overturned the earlier result and declared Ishraque the mayor of Dhaka South on Mar 27.
Upon receiving the court’s verdict, the Election Commission (EC) sought legal advice from the law ministry on Apr 22 regarding the issuance of a gazette notification.
Then, on Apr 27, the EC issued a gazette officially naming Ishraque as the new mayor of DSCC.
However, Ishraque has yet to be sworn in, sparking frustration among his supporters.