For the second consecutive day, supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain gathered on Thursday in front of Jamuna, the chief adviser's official residence, demanding that Ishraque be officially sworn in as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in accordance with a court ruling.
At 9am, a visit to the scene found protesters chanting various slogans demanding Ishraque be declared mayor and the resignation of Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain.
The supporters had been stationed there since Wednesday evening and stayed through the night.
In the morning, one group went to rest while another began arriving.
By around 11am, thousands more leaders and activists were expected to join the intensified demonstration.
Traffic has already been halted in surrounding areas, including Kakrail, Matsya Bhaban, Circuit House, and Hare Road, blocking access to the area in front of Jamuna.
Law enforcement agencies remain on high alert.
Earlier, on Wednesday evening, Ishraque himself joined his supporters in front of Jamuna, declaring declared that they would not leave until their demands were met.
For the past week, Ishraque’s supporters have been staging protests blocking roads in various locations, including Nagar Bhaban and the High Court area, demanding his formal appointment as mayor as per the court’s ruling.
The Dhaka South City Corporation election was held on February 1, 2020, in which Awami League candidate Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh was declared the winner.
However, on March 27 this year, the Election Tribunal, presided over by Md Nurul Islam, annulled the result that had declared Taposh as the winner and instead declared Ishraque the duly elected mayor.
Upon receiving the tribunal’s verdict, the Election Commission sought the opinion of the Law Ministry on April 22 regarding the publication of the gazette.
Subsequently, on April 27, the commission issued the gazette formally declaring Ishraque the new mayor of DSCC.
