Supporters of BNP leader Ishraque Hossain on Monday afternoon issued a stern warning that they will launch a tougher movement if he is not sworn in as mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) within the next 24 hours.
The warning came at around 1:30pm during a sit-in at the inner gate of Nagar Bhaban. The announcement was made by former secretary Moshiur Rahman, after which the day's program was concluded.
Moshiur said: “We had given a 48-hour ultimatum, of which 24 hours have already passed. Yet, our demand has not been met.”
He warned: “If Ishraque Hossain is not sworn in as mayor within the next 24 hours, we will embark on an even tougher movement. The people of Dhaka will install him in office through this struggle.”
He added that during the peaceful demonstration, operations related to essential public services, particularly in the sanitation department, will continue.
He said sanitation workers will be allowed to collect and use their equipment, ensuring emergency services by the city corporation remain uninterrupted.
The day's protest, demanding that Ishraque be allowed to take office as mayor, began at 11am, led by his supporters and members of the Dhaka South City Corporation Workers’ and Employees’ Union.
As a result, all citizen services at Nagar Bhaban came to a standstill, causing public inconvenience.
Notably, this movement began on May 14 and has continued till now.
On-site observations revealed that the gates of Nagar Bhaban were padlocked, and supporters under the banners of the “Dhaka South City Corporation Workers' and Employees' Union” and “Dhakabashi (Dhaka residents)” were holding their sit-in at the inner gate.
Md Belayet Hossain, general secretary of the DSCC Workers’ and Employees’ Union, said that despite a court verdict in favour of Ishraque, he has not been allowed to take his oath.
He blamed an adviser for acting arbitrarily, which has prevented the swearing-in. “The suffering of citizens today and the disruption to services are solely due to the adviser’s actions,” he alleged.
