City services come to a halt as Ishraque supporters lock down Dhaka South HQ, workers join protest

All citizen services under the Dhaka South City Corporation have come to a complete halt as supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain and employees' unions continue their siege of Nagar Bhaban, locking down the central office and all eight regional branches.

Dhaka South Administrator Md Shahjahan Miah confirmed the developments to The Business Standard this evening (21 May).

"The protestors have completely locked down Nagar Bhaban, making it impossible to carry out any official activities. Essential services such as birth and death registration, citizenship certificates, inheritance documents, and land transfer procedures are all suspended," he said.

The administrator added that eight regional offices of the Dhaka Southlocated outside the central building, have also ceased operations as pro-BNP employees of various departments also joined the protesters, further widening the scale of service disruption across the city.

Ishraque supporters have blocked major intersections in Dhaka—including the Nagar Bhaban area, Matsya Bhaban intersection, and Kakrail intersection—demanding the BNP leader be sworn in as the mayor of the city corporation.

The protest has also led to a stop in waste management and mosquito control services, critical to urban hygiene, for several days.

"All mosquito control chemicals are stored inside Nagar Bhaban, which remains inaccessible. As a result, anti-mosquito drives have been completely stopped. Similarly, fuel required for waste collection vehicles needs approval from Nagar Bhaban, which is currently impossible. Solid waste is now piling up at Secondary Transfer Stations (STSs) across the city as transportation to landfills has been halted," Shahjahan Miah explained.

The forceful shutdown by the pro-BNP protesters, has reached its seventh day today.

Leaders of all major workers' and employees' unions under Dhaka South have declared solidarity with the ongoing protest. These include the Scavenger and Workers' Union, Transport Drivers and Workers Union, Electrical Employees Welfare Association, and the Fourth-Class Employees Welfare Association.

Asked whether there have been any negotiations with the protesting unions, Administrator Shahjahan Miah said the matter has been referred to higher authorities. "We have informed the relevant higher-ups. Whatever decision is to be taken, it will be made by them."

For now, however, Dhaka South remains effectively paralyzed, with critical services suspended and no clear resolution in sight.