Ishraque says Advisor Asif Mahmud ‘spreading falsehoods’ over mayoral oath

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has accused Local Government Advisor Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain of “repeatedly spreading falsehoods” over delays in his swearing-in as Dhaka South mayor, despite the court ruling in his favour.

Speaking at the Nagar Bhaban on Wednesday, Ishraque said both some media outlets and social media users were “misrepresenting” the ongoing protests demanding his oath-taking.

“He keeps claiming there are legal complications and that the matter is sub judice,” Ishraque said.

“But Bangladesh’s highest court has already settled this issue long ago. If he still insists that legal barriers remain, I would say Bangladesh has never seen such an ignorant advisor in its history.”

Ishraque’s supporters and BNP activists have been staging a sit-in outside the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) headquarters under the banner Dhakabashi since May 14. The DSCC employees’ union later joined the protest.

Although the movement paused briefly during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, it resumed in full throttle on Sunday when offices reopened, with Ishraque announcing he would begin overseeing key city services himself to prevent a complete breakdown in operations.

He declared that essential services such as birth registration would continue under his supervision but warned that other officials would not be allowed to carry out development work.

Despite this, he made clear the protests would continue alongside the limited resumption of services.

“The gates of Nagar Bhaban will remain locked,” he said, calling the lockout a symbol of their movement.

Ishraque urged the chief advisor to intervene and allow his swearing-in as mayor. Failing that, he warned, the protests would continue without pause.

“Even though the interim government claims to represent the Uprising, they are completely ignoring public sentiment,” Ishraque said. “Despite a resolved appeal in the Supreme Court, they are treating us as if we are not citizens of this country.”

He also accused the government of acting in an authoritarian manner by denying his formal assumption of office.

“They are constantly conspiring against us -- trying to undermine our movement, twist our actions before the public, and demoralise us through misinformation,” he said.

Ishraque alleged that Advisor Asif had even called DSCC officials instructing them to cut off the fuel supply to waste management vehicles.

“His goal was to paralyse waste collection, then blame it on us,” Ishraque said. “Who gave you the authority to shut off the fuel?”

Ishraque lost the 2020 Dhaka South mayoral election to ruling Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh by nearly 200,000 votes. But on Mar 27 this year, an electoral tribunal overturned the result, and the Election Commission formally gazetted Ishraque as the new mayor on Apr 27.

However, the local government ministry has refused to arrange his oath ceremony, citing unresolved legal issues -- a move that has left Nagar Bhaban effectively paralysed amid escalating political tensions.