Thousands of people staged a protest in front of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) office on Wednesday, demanding that Ishraque Hossain be officially sworn in and handed over the mayoral responsibilities.
The protest began around 9:00 AM, with demonstrators gathering in front of Nagar Bhaban, the DSCC`s main office in Gulistan.
Witnesses said people started arriving at the location as early as 8:30 AM and later began chanting slogans in support of Ishraque.
Ishraque Hossain, a member of BNP’s Foreign Affairs Committee and son of the late mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, was declared the rightful mayor of DSCC by the Dhaka First Joint District Judge and Election Tribunal on March 27.
Following the court’s verdict, the Election Commission (EC) published a gazette on April 27 formally recognizing him as mayor.
Despite the court ruling and official gazette, protesters claim Ishraque has yet to be sworn in or given charge of the mayor’s office, prompting today’s demonstration.
One protester, Iqbal Hossain from Gopibagh, told the media that he is not affiliated with any political party but had voted for Ishraque in the last election.
He alleged that the election result was manipulated to show Ishraque`s defeat. Now that the court has corrected that injustice, authorities are stalling his assumption of office, he said.
Many of the protesters were reported to be residents of Old Dhaka, an area where Ishraque’s late father was highly popular.
Humayun Kabir, a resident of Sutrapur and another protester, echoed that the people who voted for Ishraque are now demanding that he be allowed to take office.
According to protesters, the demonstration is scheduled to continue until 2:00 PM today, and further protest plans may be announced before the day ends.
