BNP leader Ishraque Hossain has announced that he will oversee operations of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in order to break the existing administrative stalemate while also continuing their political movement.
Following a meeting with officials and staffers of the Waste Management Department at Nagar Bhaban, the DSCC headquarters, on Monday, Ishraque told reporters that services such as mosquito control and issuance of birth certificates will continue under his supervision.
He also urged the chief adviser to make a swift decision regarding his swearing-in as mayor in line with a court ruling.
“In light of the verdict from Bangladesh’s highest court, I have been declared the mayor of DSCC,” Ishraque said.
“However, the government has yet to take any steps to instate me. That is why we have launched a continuous sit-in program. But even as our movement continues, we must consider the state of civic services. We ensured all emergency services continued during the movement. We have said from the beginning that our movement should not cause additional suffering for the people.”
Addressing the dengue outbreak, he said: “The spread of dengue has intensified in Dhaka city. To accelerate mosquito eradication drives and ensure their continuity, we are beginning a series of meetings with department staff from today.”
He added: “We have already held discussions with cleaning inspectors from all 70 wards and encouraged them to continue their work. We assured them that their problems would be addressed going forward. Tomorrow, we are scheduled to meet with more than 70 ward secretaries.
"Daily services will continue even as our movement goes on. Birth and death certificates, citizenship certificates, and succession certificates will be collected through the ward secretaries’ offices so that residents face minimal hardship during this period.”
Ishraque further stated: “The day after tomorrow, we will meet with all health department officials to bring dengue under strict control. We will form monitoring teams in each ward.”
Calling on the government, the BNP leader said: “The government must not add to public suffering. It should waste no time in implementing the court’s ruling. We urge the government to end this deadlock.”
“Our movement has always been peaceful,” he added. “Voters have been coming out spontaneously to voice their demands. If the government wants to maintain neutrality and fulfil its responsibilities until the next election, and if it wants to earn the public’s trust, then it must immediately carry out the swearing-in ceremony. Otherwise, we will continue this movement.”
