Ishraque supporters resume protest at Nagar Bhaban

A section of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) employees also joined the protests.

The main gate of Nagar Bhaban remains closed while Ishraque's supporters continue to chant slogans and bring out processions on its premises.

“We will not leave until the people's mayor Ishraque is given the responsibility he rightfully deserves,” said one of his supporters.

DSCC official Milon said, “We will continue our movement until Ishraque is sworn in. The day he takes oath, our protest will end.”

“We’ve heard that preparations are underway for his swearing-in. We urge the authorities not to delay and to hand over the responsibilities immediately,” he added.

Ishraque, son of late Dhaka mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, lost the 2020 Dhaka South City election to Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh by a margin of nearly 200,000 votes.

Following the fall of the Awami League government amid a mass uprising, Dhaka’s election tribunal on March 27 this year cancelled the 2020 results and declared Ishraque the new mayor.

Subsequently, on April 27, the Election Commission published a gazette notification declaring him the mayor of DSCC. But on May 14, a resident of Dhaka South and Supreme Court lawyer, Mamunur Rashid, filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking to block the oath-taking.

Against this backdrop, Ishraque's supporters launched their protests last week, halting activities at Nagar Bhaban.

The Local Government Ministry citing legal complications refrained from arranging the swearing-in ceremony.

On Thursday, a High Court bench rejected the writ petition, learing the way for his swearing-in.

Later that day, Ishraque suspended the movement for 48 hours and issued an ultimatum to arrange his swearing-in, reports UNB.