Ishraque's supporters resume protest at Nagar Bhaban

Supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain have once again blocked Nagar Bhaban in Dhaka after the Ministry of Local Government failed to swear him in as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

The demonstrators began their sit-in at Nagar Bhaban on Saturday morning. The building's main entrance and other access points were locked.

Gathering outside the ground floor of the building, members of the DSCC labour union and Ishraque’s supporters staged protests. As a result, citizens who came for services were forced to return empty-handed.

On Thursday, after the High Court dismissed a writ petition seeking to block Ishraque’s swearing-in as Dhaka South mayor, the BNP leader had announced a suspension of the protest for 24 to 48 hours to observe what steps the local government ministry would take.

After the deadline passed, his supporters resumed their occupation of Nagar Bhaban on Saturday.

Appealing to the government to arrange the swearing-in without delay, Ishraque urged his supporters to avoid disrupting public services.

Speaking to protesters over the phone, he said: “We had given the government a deadline. Since Friday was a weekend, no action was taken that day. We will allow one more day for officials to complete their responsibilities. I hope the people of Dhaka will not suffer because of the government’s negligence.

“When this government, born out of an anti-discrimination movement and calling itself the product of a people’s uprising, discriminated against me the most, the employees of the city corporation stood by me. If we stand together, no evil force can overpower us. I hope the cause for which you’ve been demonstrating will be resolved very soon.”

Citing the failure to swear in Ishraque as a barrier to assuming the mayoral office, his supporters called for renewed protests.

Belayet Hossain Babu, general secretary of the DSCC labour union, said: “Despite the court’s verdict, the local government ministry has not initiated the oath process for the people’s mayor Ishraque Hossain. That’s why the union is protesting today.”

Joining city staff in the protest was former secretary Moshiur Rahman, now coordinator of Ishraque’s supporters’ platform “Dhaka Bashi”.

“The government still hasn’t started the process for Ishraque’s swearing-in. That’s why the protest continues today. It will continue until the process begins. If the government sends a letter inviting the mayor to take his oath, we will reconsider our programme,” he said.

DSCC spokesman Md Russell Rahman said, “As in previous days, Nagar Bhaban remains locked today as well. This is disrupting our regular activities.”

In response, Moshiur said: “Neither I nor Ishraque Hossain locked the building. This is a spontaneous act by the people of Dhaka who love him. DSCC employees have also shown solidarity with our movement by abstaining from work. I don’t have the keys, so I cannot unlock it either.”

Ishraque lost the DSCC election on Feb 1, 2020, to Awami League’s Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh by nearly 200,000 votes.

But on Mar 27 this year, Judge Md Nurul Islam of the Dhaka Election Tribunal overturned the result and declared Ishraque mayor.

The Election Commission (EC) issued a gazette on Apr 27 naming him mayor, but he has yet to take his oath of office.