Ishraque supporters block Nagar Bhaban, officers left outside

Supporters of Ishraque Hossain have blocked the main gate and other entrances to the Nagar Bhaban, or Dhaka City Corporation office, demanding the authorities hand over duties to him.

As a result, officers and staff members have been unable to enter the office since Thursday morning. Citizens seeking services are suffering due to the blockade.

Several hundreds of people staged protests at the Nagar Bhaban premises under the banner of "Dhakabashi" on Wednesday demanding the authorities to hand over responsibilities of Dhaka South City Corporation to Ishraque. They announced a continuous protest programme from Thursday.

As part of the programme, protesters gathered at the Nagar Bhaban at 9am on Thursday. They occupied the main entrance, open space near the main building, Nagar Bhaban ground floor and chanted slogans supporting Ishraque.

Aminul Haque, a supporter from Gopibagh, said: "The government has issued a gazette declaring Ishraque Hossain as mayor. But now his oath-taking is getting delayed over silly excuses. He should be given his mayoral duties immediately."

As the protesters blocked all the entries including the main entrance to the Nagar Bhaban, no one could enter the building, said Russel Mahmud, an officer at the engineering department.

He told bdnews24.com, "Protesters gathered at the Nagar Bhaban premises in the morning. They didn't let any of us enter."

An officer at the urban planning department told bdnews24.com, "We came to the office in the morning and found the main gate closed. Now we are waiting outside."

On Mar 27, Judge Md Nurul Islam of Dhaka District Judge’s Court and the Election Tribunal Court declared Ishraque as the Dhaka South mayor, scrapping the 2020 election outcomes where Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh emerged victorious.

The gazette issued by the government declaring Taposh, elected under the boat symbol, as mayor had also been revoked.

Ishraque, the son of former mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, was declared mayor as a candidate under the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol.

However, Ishraque's swearing-in ceremony has yet to be held, which agitated the protesters.

Pavel Ahmed, a resident of Old Dhaka's Sutrapur, told bdnews24.com: "It is a demand from us, the Dhaka residents, that Ishraque Hossain is sworn in as mayor and handed his responsibilities."

“The court already issued a verdict regarding this and everything was done according to the law. Even then the local government ministry is making excuses to enable Ishraque to take the mayoral office. The local government ministry doesn't hold more power than the court."

Another protester Saiful Islam said, "Citizens pay regular taxes to the city corporation. But they don't get any civic amenities due to the lack of a mayor. We came here to ensure that Ishraque is sworn in as mayor soon, following the court verdict."