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Dhaka, May 20, 2025 – Supporters of BNP leader Ishraq Hossain have blockaded the road in front of the Nagar Bhaban (Dhaka South City Corporation office) since Tuesday morning, demanding that Ishraq be sworn in as the mayor. The ongoing sit-in has brought all operations and civic services at the Nagar Bhaban to a standstill.
Starting at 10 AM, protesters set up a temporary stage in front of the main gate, playing the national anthem and patriotic songs. The blockade has disrupted traffic from Bangabazar to Gulistan’s Golap Shah Mazar. Demonstrators are chanting slogans demanding Ishraq’s immediate swearing-in as mayor and the resignation of Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan. Slogans include phrases like “Asif’s hide, we’ll take it aside,” “Slap Asif’s cheeks in rhythm,” and “One demand, one goal: Asif’s resignation.”
BNP activists supporting Ishraq stated that the Nagar Bhaban will remain paralyzed until their demand for his swearing-in is met. They warned of escalating protests if the government fails to comply soon. The sit-in, ongoing since last Wednesday, has rendered the city corporation office non-functional, halting 28 types of civic services and causing significant inconvenience to residents.
Asma Begum, a resident of Old Dhaka, expressed frustration, saying, “I’ve been coming here for three days, but the gates are closed, and we can’t meet anyone.” The Local Government Division, currently operating from the Nagar Bhaban due to a fire at the Secretariat last December, has also been affected, preventing Adviser Asif Mahmud from accessing his office.
Sumon Hasan, a Chhatra Dal activist from Dayaganj, accused the government and the Local Government Ministry of unjustly delaying Ishraq’s appointment as mayor, calling Asif Mahmud the “mastermind” behind the issue. He vowed to continue the protests until Ishraq assumes office.
Adilur Rahman, a businessman from Lalbagh, claimed Ishraq was unfairly defeated in the election through a conspiracy. “The court has now declared him mayor. We want to see him in the mayor’s chair for the remaining term,” he said.
AI/MR
