No room for Ishraque to take mayoral oath, says Advisor Asif

Ishraque Hossain can no longer be sworn in as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) due to the “expiry” of both the gazette notification and the city corporation’s tenure, according to Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.

Speaking at the Secretariat on Wednesday, he said the ministry did not act earlier as the matter was under judicial consideration and referred to the law ministry for guidance.

Supporters of Ishraque had protested for more than a month demanding his swearing-in.

Although a file was forwarded on the matter, the interim government held off on any decision while waiting for legal advice.

The advisor said the law ministry, following discussions with the attorney general and others, informed the authorities that the oath could not proceed as the issue was still pending in court.

He noted that May 26 was the last permissible date to carry out the oath.

With the city corporation’s official term ending on Jun 1, administering the oath was no longer legally possible, Asif said.

Ishraque’s supporters, under the banner “Dhakabashi”, began a sit-in outside Nagar Bhaban on May 14.

The DSCC employees’ union also joined, and the protest effectively brought city corporation activities to a halt.

Asif criticised the blockade, saying over 10 million residents were affected by the disruption.

He called it a “failure” on the part of the interim administration, which is tasked with ensuring uninterrupted civic services.

Asif urged responsible behaviour from all sides. “Ishraque Hossain should consider the legal aspects. The interim government maintains a good understanding with the BNP.

“So we expect everyone to act responsibly.”

He added, “I believe Ishraque Hossain is part of a mass uprising. That’s why, during this one-and-a-half-month period, I have never personally targeted him.

“Still, we hope to see more responsible behaviour from him [Ishraque].”

Asif warned that locking down the city corporation, obstructing officials, and occupying the mayor’s chair amounted to criminal offences under the law.

The DSCC election was held on Feb 1, 2020, where Ishraque lost to Awami League candidate 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 without an official oath, Ishraque could not assume office. Protests failed to secure the ceremony.

On Jun 3, he announced he would swear himself in if the government did not.

Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, he scaled back the protest and temporarily suspended the demonstration outside Nagar Bhaban.

Although he did not go through with the self-administered oath after Eid, Ishraque held a meeting with DSCC staff inside the building.

A banner displayed during the meeting identified him as “honourable mayor”.