Protest's main goal now clear election roadmap, not mayoral oath: Ishraque
He also demanded the resignation of Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud and Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam and asked them to “join their party”
BNP leader Ishraque Hossain today (21 May) said the ongoing protest over his mayoral oath is no longer the movement's main objective, but the announcement of a clear election roadmap.
Joining protesters at the capital's Kakrail intersection in the evening, he also announced that the protesters will not leave the streets till their demand is met.
He also demanded the resignation of Local Government Adviser Asif Mahud and Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam.
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"I don't have any personal acquaintance or enmity with the two advisers. I wish all the best for them. I would like to tell them to resign and do organizational politics in the political party of their choosing. We will not accept any more interference on the government. We want a clear electoral roadmap," Ishraque said.
Ishaque added, "Many joined today's protest while being sad over the delay in my swearing-in as the mayor. I have received a verdict from the court in a case that I had filed following the law. I would have become the mayor according to the law, but the government is not letting that happen."
"We were positive when a new political party emerged in the country. We had thought that it will be good for the country's politics. But some representatives of this party remained inside the government, which has raised the question if there will be a proper election under a neutral government," Ishraque added.
Ishraque further said, "I thank Nahid Islam for leaving the government and joining party politics. The other two advisers are trying to prevent BNP from participating in the next elections, forming the next government and implement the 31-point reform initiative."
"Hasina had done the same things. We will not let any autocrat to reign over the country. If such a thing happens, their outcome will be like Hasina. We had created the backdrop for Hasina's ouster through a 17-year fight and struggle. We are ready for prompt response anytime," Ishraque also said.
Besides, the BNP leader sought an accurate count of the votes of the Dhaka North City Corporation's 2020 election, of which he was declared the rightful winner by the Election Commission recently.
Addressing protesters, Ishraque said, "There are some advisers who don't want BNP to implement their 31-point reform proposal."
"During the announcement of the verdict on my swearing-in as mayor, there was an interference in the judiciary from the inside of the government. They are also interfering in the activities of the Election Commission. Such an EC cannot hold a proper election," Ishraque alleged.
Ishraque added, "The government has to decide how they will prove their neutrality. The first thing that I want is the removal of Asif Mahmud Sajeed Bhuiyan as the local government adviser. I would like to tell Asif and Mahfuj to resign as advisers and return to their parties with honour."
"Our only demand now is the announcement of a clear electoral roadmap," Ishraque added.
The BNP leader further said, "We cannot backtrack now. We will not return to our homes till our demands are met. I would like to urge everyone to demand their voting rights."
During this time, Ishraque expressed solidarity with the protest and said he would join the protesters on the street with others.
Earlier, protestors blocked major intersections in Dhaka—including the Nagar Bhaban area, Matsya Bhaban intersection, and Kakrail intersection—demanding BNP leader Ishraque Hossain's oath-taking as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
Protests began after 11am at Matsya Bhaban intersection, causing severe traffic disruptions and public suffering. Demonstrators also gathered in front of Nagar Bhaban, the South City Corporation headquarters, chanting slogans in support of Ishraque and calling for his immediate swearing-in as mayor.
The Dhaka South City Corporation election was held on 1 February 2020, in which Awami League (AL) candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh was elected mayor.
The Election Commission published the gazette of the election results on 2 February. Taposh then took the oath and has been performing his duties since then.
Taposh received more than 425,000 votes in that election for the Dhaka South mayoral position. His closest competitor, Ishraque, received 236,000 votes.
Citing irregularities and corruption, Ishraque Hossain filed a case on 3 March 2020 seeking to nullify the results.
Following the Awami League government's fall amid a mass uprising last August, the mayors of all city corporations across the country were removed.
Since then, Additional Secretary Shahjahan Miah has been serving as the administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation.
Meanwhile, on 27 March, Dhaka's First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal Judge Md Nurul Islam cancelled the election results that had declared Fazle Noor Taposh as the winner of the 2020 Dhaka South City Corporation election and declared BNP leader Ishraque Hossain as the mayor.
The court ordered the gazette to be published in 10 days. Following this ruling, the Election Commission published the gazette on 27 April.
On the day of the gazette publication, two individuals, Rafiqul Islam and Mamunur Rashid, issued legal notices appealing against the ruling that declared Ishraque Hossain as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation.
The notices urged restraint from publishing the gazette and from Ishraque taking the oath.
Later, Mamunur Rashid filed a writ petition with the High Court. The petition requested a rule asking why the 27 March ruling and the 27 April gazette should not be declared illegal, and why directions should not be given to prevent Ishraque Hossain from taking the oath.
