One month on, Nagar Bhaban still locked amid protests over Ishraque's mayoral oath

Nagar Bhaban, the administrative headquarters of the Dhaka City South Corporation (DSCC), has remained shut for a month due to protests by supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain and the DSCC employee unions, demanding that he be sworn in as mayor.

Although government offices reopened on Sunday after a 10-day Eid holiday, Nagar Bhaban remained locked. From early morning, members of the DSCC employee unions were seen gathering in front of the building, chanting slogans calling for Ishraque to be handed the mayoral duties.

“We’ve been here since morning. Ishraque Bhai is expected to arrive around noon. We’ve heard he will announce a new programme. The building is still locked,” a protester said.

Due to the lockdown, DSCC officials and staff have been unable to enter their offices, disrupting normal administrative services.

“I came to the office but couldn’t get inside. So, like before, I’ve just been walking around. Ishraque Hossain is supposed to come today. I’ve heard he may announce a new programme. Let’s see if the office reopens after that,” a DSCC official said.

Supporters of Ishraque and BNP activists began a sit-in under the banner ‘Dhakabashi’ (Residents of Dhaka) in front of Nagar Bhaban on May 14.

The most recent DSCC election was held on Feb 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.