Ishraque's swear-in as Dhaka South mayor: Protests continue for 12th day at Nagar Bhaban
Protestors maintained that the Nagar Bhaban “cannot run without a mayor” and demanded immediate action to formalise Ishraque’s assumption of office
Highlights
- Protesters continue their sit-in demanding Ishraque Hossain's oath as mayor for 12 days
- Protesters gathered at Nagar Bhaban chanting "no office without a mayor"
- A writ was filed on 25 May seeking High Court directive for Ishraque's oath
Employees of Dhaka South City Corporation continued their work stoppage and sit-in today (26 May), demanding that BNP leader Ishraque Hossain be sworn in and handed charge as mayor.
Around 10am, protestors began gathering on the Nagar Bhaban premises, chanting slogans such as "no office without a mayor." By 11:45am, around 50 to 60 employees were present at the site.
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Rahim Miah, a member of the city corporation's employee union, said, "The court's verdict regarding his becoming mayor has already come, yet there is procrastination in administering his oath."
Protestors maintained that the Nagar Bhaban "cannot run without a mayor" and demanded immediate action to formalise Ishraque's assumption of office.
One of the employees, Murad Hossain, said, "Our demonstration is not causing any inconvenience to the residents of Dhaka. There would have been suffering if we had stopped waste collection. But we are continuing regular waste disposal."
Around 12pm, a group of 30 members from the Peribagh Super Market (Sakura Market) Owners' Association joined the demonstration at Nagar Bhaban, expressing support for Ishraque Hossain's claim to the Dhaka South mayoral post.
During that time, they chanted derogatory slogans against Adviser Asif Mohammad Sajib Bhuiyan and demanded his resignation.
Earlier yesterday (25 May), Ishraque filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking a directive to administer his oath as Dhaka South mayor.
On the same day, an appeal was also filed in the Appellate Division seeking a stay on the High Court's earlier dismissal of a petition challenging the legality of the Election Commission's gazette declaring Ishraque mayor and seeking to prevent his swearing-in.
Previously, on 22 May, the High Court bench of Justice Md Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury dismissed the petition, ruling that the matter fell under electoral jurisdiction and was not for the High Court to decide.
The new appeal seeks to suspend that dismissal and halt any further steps in the oath-taking process.
The dispute centres around the 1 February 2020 Dhaka South election, in which Awami League's Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh was declared the winner amid allegations of irregularities.
Ishraque challenged the result in court, and on 27 March 2024, Dhaka's First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal ruled in his favour, declaring him the elected mayor and nullifying the previous outcome.
Following the tribunal's decision, the Election Commission published a gazette on 27 April officially declaring Ishraque as mayor.
However, on 14 May, a writ petition was filed by Supreme Court lawyer Md Mamunur Rashid seeking to block Ishraque's swearing-in.
