Supporters of BNP leader Engineer Ishraq Hossain are continuing their demonstration for the fourth straight day, demanding that he be declared the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation.
The ongoing protest, organized under the banner of “Dhakabashi” (People of Dhaka), includes Ishraq’s supporters as well as general voters of the Dhaka South City area.
Today, May 18, leaders and activists from various wings of the BNP are again staging a protest in front of the Nagar Bhaban.
As part of their demonstration, they have locked the main gate of the building and shut down all rooms and elevators.
Hundreds of protesters are sitting on the main road in front of the building, chanting slogans.
At one point, protesters marched from Nagar Bhaban toward the Secretariat, shouting slogans calling for the resignation of government cooperative adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan.
Protesters have declared that their movement will continue until Ishraq Hossain is officially announced as mayor, and they will keep the building locked in the meantime.
Earlier in the morning, from 9 AM, thousands of Ishraq’s supporters began gathering with placards and banners in front of Nagar Bhaban.
They chanted slogans such as: “Make Ishraq mayor,” “Ishraq, fear not—Dhaka is with you,” “No more delay in oath-taking,” and “Dhakabashi’s action—direct action.”
Abdur Rahman, president of BNP’s Ward 33 unit, said, “Ishraq is the people’s mayor. There’s been unnecessary delay. We demand he be declared mayor immediately.”
The protest at Nagar Bhaban has seen participation from various BNP-affiliated organizations, including Jubo Dal and Krishak Dal.
As a result of the sit-in in front of Nagar Bhaban, traffic congestion has worsened around Gulistan, Fulbaria, and Banga Market, with hundreds of vehicles stuck in gridlock.
