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Dhaka, May 17, 2025: Police obstructed a long march by supporters of Ishraque Hossain, a BNP leader, demanding his swearing-in as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) on Saturday.
The march, which started from the DSCC office at Nagar Bhaban, was halted by police barricades near the Secretariat, forcing protesters to return to their starting point.
The procession began around 11:30 AM from Nagar Bhaban, moving through Gulistan Mazar, Zero Point, Paltan, and the Press Club toward the Secretariat. However, police intervened with barricades, preventing the march from reaching its destination. The protesters, chanting slogans like “No delays in oath-taking,” “We demand Ishraque Hossain’s oath immediately,” and “People’s mayor is Ishraque Bhai, no one else,” returned to Nagar Bhaban and continued their demonstration.
Ishraque’s supporters had previously announced the long march from Nagar Bhaban to the Secretariat. As part of their ongoing agitation, they blockaded Nagar Bhaban for the third consecutive day, holding protests and sit-ins starting in the morning. DSCC general employees also joined the demonstration, shutting all gates of the Nagar Bhaban, paralyzing the corporation’s main office. This prevented service seekers and officials from entering the premises.
The protesters allege that despite a court ruling and the Election Commission’s gazette notification, authorities are delaying Ishraque Hossain’s oath-taking. They claim, “By denying the people’s chosen mayor his duties, the authorities are betraying the public.” The group vowed to continue their movement until Ishraque is sworn in.
Background: In the DSCC election held on February 1, 2020, Awami League’s Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh was declared mayor. Ishraque Hossain, a BNP candidate, filed a case alleging irregularities. On March 27, 2025, the Election Tribunal nullified Taposh’s victory and declared Ishraque the mayor. The Election Commission published the gazette on April 27, but procedural delays have stalled the oath-taking process.
AI/MR
