by
Dhaka, June 16, 2025: Without officially taking the oath, BNP leader Ishraq Hossain was honored as the Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) during an event at Nagar Bhaban. On Monday (June 16), following the Eid holidays, the DSCC Waste Management Department organized an exchange of views at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium, where Ishraq was welcomed with flowers and a crest. The banner at the event referred to him as ‘Honorable Mayor, Dhaka South City Corporation.’
Arriving at the auditorium around 11 a.m., Ishraq was warmly received by DSCC officials and employees. This marked his first meeting at Nagar Bhaban. The organizers stated that the event was held to ensure a cleaner Dhaka and improved civic services. During the meeting, officials addressed Ishraq as the Mayor.
Meanwhile, BNP and its affiliate organizations staged protests outside Nagar Bhaban, demanding Ishraq’s oath-taking. On Monday, for the second consecutive day, they locked the main gate of Nagar Bhaban and continued their demonstrations. Slogans such as “No fear for Ishraq Bhai, we won’t leave the streets,” “The streets are shaking, Ishraq Bhai is coming,” and “We want to see Ishraq Bhai in the Mayor’s seat” echoed in the area. Protesters vowed not to unlock the gate until Ishraq is sworn in, though they assured that civic services would continue uninterrupted.
For context, in the DSCC election held on February 1, 2020, Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas was declared the winner. Alleging irregularities, Ishraq filed a case on March 3, 2020, to annul the results. On March 27, 2025, the Election Tribunal overturned the results and declared Ishraq the Mayor. On April 27, the Election Commission issued a gazette notification confirming Ishraq as the Mayor. However, legal complications, including a writ petition filed in the High Court on May 14, have delayed his oath-taking. Although the High Court dismissed the writ after several hearings, the Local Government Ministry has refrained from arranging the oath-taking ceremony.
Ishraq’s supporters stated that they have taken steps to ensure uninterrupted public services. However, they vowed to continue their protests until Ishraq is officially sworn in as Mayor.
AI/MR
