Supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain have been staging a sit-in for the fourth consecutive day, demanding that he be officially handed the responsibilities of Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

The protest began in front of the DSCC Nagar Bhaban (City Hall) at 9:00 am on Sunday.

Due to the ongoing demonstration, vehicular movement on both sides of the road from Gulistan Mazar towards Bangabazar has come to a complete halt. Commuters are reportedly forced to reach their destinations on foot.

On March 27, Dhaka’s First Joint District Judge and Electoral Tribunal declared Ishraque Hossain, a member of BNP’s International Affairs Committee, the rightful Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation. Following the court verdict, the Election Commission (EC) issued an official gazette on April 27, formally declaring Ishraque as mayor. However, no steps have been taken so far to administer his oath or to hand over the mayoral responsibilities.

people

Supporters began their protests on Wednesday, May 14, demanding that Ishraque be instated as mayor without further delay.

Eyewitnesses said that on Sunday morning, people from various wards gathered again in front of Nagar Bhaban, carrying a banner reading: "City Hall Blockade Organised by General Voters of Dhaka – Organized by: City Residents."

They alleged that in the 2020 elections, they had voted Ishraque into office, but the results were manipulated to declare him defeated. Now that the court has reinstated him as mayor, they accused the Ministry of Local Government of deliberately delaying the oath-taking and the formal handover of responsibilities. The protesters joined to denounce this delay.

Ishraque Hossain is the son of the late BNP leader and former mayor of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation, Sadeque Hossain Khoka.