Ishraque to ‘provide’ civic services under ‘own supervision’ amid Nagar Bhaban lockdown

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain today declared that essential civic services will be resumed "under his own supervision" to prevent public sufferings, amid the continued protests demanding that he be sworn in as mayor in line with a recent court verdict.

A section of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) employees and supporters of Ishraque, under the banner of "Amra Dhakabashi," have been staging a sit-in for over a month by locking down the DSCC's Nagar Bhaban.

As the standoff remains unresolved, Ishraque announced that the movement will continue. He and his followers also warned that no officials, including the city administrator, will be allowed to enter the Nagar Bhaban.

The move has raised questions about the feasibility of providing civic services while keeping the administrative building locked and not allowing officials to enter their offices.

Key services at stake include birth and death registration, inheritance certificates, citizenship documentation, mosquito control, waste management, drainage, and street lighting.

Speaking to The Business Standard on the matter, Ishraque said, "We are exploring options on how to provide these services. Once a decision is finalised, we will make an announcement. Temporary booths may be set up at zonal offices, or applications can be collected through ward secretaries for processing."

Several DSCC officials and employees involved in emergency services told TBS that maintaining these functions without access to office infrastructure is unrealistic. 

"If officials can't enter their offices, how can departments operate?" one official said.

Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Md Mahabubur Rahman Talukder expressed concern over the current situation, saying, "We want this crisis to end so that we can resume normal operations. Due to the disruption over the past month, we are now six months behind schedule. 

"Waste management is currently running without any monitoring. No service can function effectively with Nagar Bhaban shut."

Arifuzzaman Prince, general secretary of the Nationalist Workers and Employees Union of DSCC, told TBS, "Without field-level officials, civic services can't be delivered. There is no alternative to reopening Nagar Bhaban. Essential tasks like birth registration or mosquito control require proper oversight.

"While we support Ishraque Hossain's rightful claim to the mayoral office, we do not support prolonging public suffering by keeping the city's main administrative office closed." 

A DSCC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "Issuing a birth certificate requires approval from multiple departments, including the regional executive officer. This cannot be done unless the offices are operational.

"How will we verify information or certify documents without staff present? Vaccination drives for children are already halted, and the programme is set to expire this June." 

Despite this, Ishraque remains adamant. 

"All necessary mosquito control efforts are being implemented. We will establish a ward-based dengue monitoring cell with live updates, awareness leaflets, and campaigns," he said addressing reporters queries. 

"We will also hold meetings with the health and conservancy departments in the coming days."

Ishraque seeks chief adviser's intervention

Meanwhile, Ishraque also urged the chief adviser to intervene and arrange his swearing-in as mayor, as ordered by the court.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Nagar Bhaban yesterday, he said the delay in his oath-taking violates the Constitution.

"We will not break open the main gate, but emergency services such as birth registration and waste management will be carried out under our supervision. No development-related departments will function until our demand is fulfilled," he said.

"We don't want the public to suffer. However, the local government division and its officials are fully responsible for this deadlock." 

"The government is constitutionally bound to swear me in as mayor as per the court ruling. By not doing so, adviser Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuiyan has violated the Constitution," Ishraque said.

Referring to attempts to hinder the process, the BNP leader said, "When the Election Commission was moving forward with my issue, a group from a party named NCP created a mob in front of the commission. Since then, the commission has been evading responsibility. If they don't like the outcome, they create mobs."

Ishraque also said, "The law adviser's recent remarks make it clear the government had decided from the beginning that they wouldn't let me assume office."

"The court verdict proves that the elections under Sheikh Hasina's rule were rigged, with people's victories stolen through fraud," he said.

The current impasse follows the 1 February 2020 Dhaka South City election, in which Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh was declared the winner.

Ishraque Hossain later challenged the result in court, and on 27 March, the Election Tribunal ruled in his favour, declaring him the elected mayor.

Despite the verdict, the government has yet to arrange his swearing-in. In the meantime, daily services including trade licences, holding tax payments, and birth registrations remain suspended.