Ishraque's mayoral oath: Protest continues at Nagar Bhaban, blockade announced for tomorrow
LGD office relocated to Secretariat from Nagar Bhaban in face of protest
Highlights:
- The blockade will run from 11am to 3pm around Nagar Bhaban
- Nagar Bhaban remains locked for 4th consecutive day today
- City residents are unable to avail services
- City corporation staff and officials report being blocked from entering their offices
- Ishraque yet to be sworn in as Dhaka South mayor
- Protesters vow not to leave the street until Ishraque is sworn in
Protesters have announced a blockade programme for tomorrow, demanding the swearing-in of the BNP's Ishraque Hossain as the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation.
Former senior secretary Mashiur Rahman made the announcement under the banner of "Citizens of Dhaka" during the fourth day of their ongoing sit-in protest in front of Nagar Bhaban today.
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Mashiur said the blockade will begin at 11am today in and around the Nagar Bhaban area and continue until 3pm.
Earlier in the day, protesters gathered at Nagar Bhaban and locked the building for the fourth day, demanding Ishraque's swearing-in as mayor.
They took position in front of the main gate of Nagar Bhaban, preventing the people from availing services from there. The city corporation staff were also unable to access their offices. In addition, the Local Government Division office was also relocated from there to the Secretariat building.
Dhaka South City CEO Zillur Rahman said, "I cannot enter the office. This means that official work — especially any file work — cannot be done."
Since the morning today, they came in small groups from various parts of the city under the banner of "Citizens of Dhaka".
Earlier, at a press briefing on 17 May, Ishraque said he had filed a case within 30 days of the 2020 mayoral polls. "Former Dhaka South mayor Taposh tried to obstruct the case proceedings by force."
On 27 April, the Election Commission announced Ishraque as the new mayor of Dhaka South after receiving a legal opinion from the law ministry and subsequently publishing a gazette.
Following the ouster of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, all mayors were removed in the country's 12 city corporations.
Meanwhile, the Local Government Division has shifted its operations to the fire-ravaged Secretariat building-7 from the Nagar Bhaban as the city corporation building was padlocked by the protesters.
On the first day of the relocation today, local government officials endured immense suffering as they had to share rooms on the 2nd floor of the Secretariat Building, which was damaged in a huge fire in December last year.
Visiting the Secretariat building today, many officials were found rooming, while many others were yet to secure a place.
Previously, the LGD office was moved to the Dhaka South Nagar Bhan on 30 December when the Secretariat building was evacuated for repairs after the devastating fire.
